Max Verstappen has emerged as an unexpected contender for the position of Lewis Hamilton’s successor at Mercedes.
Toto Wolff has conceded that the prospect of Max Verstappen transitioning from Red Bull to Mercedes seems improbable, especially if the reigning champions continue to provide him with the swiftest machinery.
Wolff elucidated on Mercedes’ prospects of enticing Verstappen to leave Red Bull: “The market is very interesting.
“For a driver, the most important thing is to be with whoever is fastest, and there is no reason now for Max to leave Red Bull anytime soon. But we’ll see what happens.”
A few months back, Verstappen’s tenure at Red Bull seemed rock solid. The 26-year-old is bound by a contract stretching till the culmination of the 2028 season, and Red Bull Racing’s creation of the RB20 hinted at another championship-worthy car.
Nonetheless, the turmoil surrounding Christian Horner’s role has stirred unrest within the Red Bull camp. With uncertainty looming over the futures of Adrian Newey and Helmut Marko, it’s not beyond imagination that the star driver might consider departing alongside them.
Rumors of a potential sensational move to Mercedes gained traction when Jos Verstappen, the father of the three-time world champion, was spotted engaged in conversation with Wolff in the Bahrain Grand Prix paddock.
In the aftermath of the race weekend, the 52-year-old piled further pressure on Horner by stating: “There is tension here while [Horner] remains in position. The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
Mercedes finds themselves in a predicament following the unexpected decision of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to depart for Ferrari at the conclusion of the 2024 season.
With rising talent Kimi Antonelli still some distance away from reaching the Formula 1 grid, and neither Mick Schumacher nor Frederik Vesti ready to step into the role, Wolff faces the challenge of securing a replacement swiftly.
Verstappen emerges as a potential solution, offering a creative choice under the circumstances.
However, as hinted by the Mercedes team principal, the Silver Arrows must significantly narrow the gap to Red Bull if they hope to persuade Verstappen that they possess a car capable of contending for World Championships.
