Max Verstappen has threatened to quit Red Bull if ally Helmut Marko leaves, and Toto Wolff hopes to convince the Dutchman to join Mercedes if he follow through on that.
Max Verstappen has received the news that his chances of winning races will be put on hold if he takes over Lewis Hamilton’s position at Mercedes.
Toto Wolff, who is in a desperate search for a successor to the seven-time F1 champion, has expressed a strong desire to have the Dutchman on board. Hamilton, at the age of 40, will be embarking on a new chapter of his career by joining Ferrari at the end of the year.
Verstappen, who has secured three consecutive drivers’ titles with the dominant force of F1, Red Bull, is currently under contract until 2028. However, his close friendship with Helmut Marko has caused tension with team boss Christian Horner.
The 26-year-old racer has even expressed his willingness to leave his contract if Marko departs. In light of this, Wolff sees an opportunity to persuade Verstappen to join Mercedes, as they will soon have a significant gap to fill with Hamilton’s departure.
Jacques Villeneuve expressed skepticism about Max Verstappen’s potential impact on a new team, despite his current success with Red Bull. The 1997 world champion believes that while Verstappen may think he could achieve victories with Mercedes or Ferrari, it remains to be seen if he can truly make a significant difference.
Villeneuve emphasized that Verstappen’s dominance over Sergio Perez may not accurately reflect Perez’s true abilities, as the comparison is solely based on their performance within the same team.
If Max were to switch teams, it would definitely require some time for him to regain his momentum. It wouldn’t be as simple as hopping into the Mercedes seat and immediately winning races. It takes a considerable amount of time and effort.
This is particularly evident during the race itself, rather than just in qualifying. When a car perfectly matches a driver’s style, they are able to handle it with finesse. They delicately maneuver the car without pushing it beyond its limits. Unfortunately, not all drivers possess this skill.
Red Bull and Max have been outperforming the other teams by a wide margin. The competition behind Max is incredibly close, but that alone doesn’t make the racing thrilling. The grid is extremely tight, though.
Max Verstappen’s bid for a record-equalling 10th consecutive F1 race win was thwarted at the Australian Grand Prix. Unfortunately, his race came to an abrupt end due to a brake fire after only a few laps. This unexpected turn of events paved the way for Carlos Sainz to seize the opportunity and secure a one-two finish for Ferrari in Melbourne.
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