Mercedes confirm: Max Verstappen will not be driving with us in 2025
09:50, 21 Aug 2024
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Max Verstappen was long linked with a possible switch to Mercedes in 2025, but it will not come to that. The German team confirmed this to GPblog on Wednesday morning. This puts an end to months of speculation about a possible switch for the reigning world champion and Toto Wolff's ongoing flirtations.
Verstappen's contract still runs through 2028 at Red Bull Racing, but suddenly this year it was not so certain that the Dutchman will serve that contract in full. At the beginning of the year, the turmoil began with an internal power struggle and Christian Horner being accused of transgressive behaviour. A row ensued between Horner and the Verstappen family and Adrian Newey left.
At Mercedes, they smelled their chance and tried to appeal to Verstappen to see if they could entice him into a switch. For Wolff, Verstappen was the dream candidate to succeed Lewis Hamilton after this season. It is an open secret that there have actually been talks, but the three-time world champion sees no reason to close the door behind him at Red Bull just yet.
Antonelli alongside Russell?
Mercedes must now look for another driver to act as George Russell's teammate in 2025. For that, the team has reportedly ended up with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is due to drive next year in the W16 after just one year in Formula 2 (and skipping Formula 3).
This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sarkozi
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