Debate | Will Max Verstappen ever sign for Mercedes?
F1 News
Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes for Ferrari in the 2025 season. As a result, Toto Wolff then had to look for a new driver, and throughout the season, he often shared his wish to sign Max Verstappen to his team. Today, Mercedes confirmed to GPblog that the Dutchman will not sign with the team for the 2025 season. Therefore, we present you the question: Will the three-time world champion ever sign for Toto Wolff's team?
The fact that Verstappen will remain at Red Bull Racing for the 2025 season is something GPblog has already learned back in May in an exclusive article. The three-time world champion also has a contract until 2028 with his current team. Still, Toto Wolff kept on praising the Dutchman week in week out, entering a conflict with also Christian Horner, who suggested the Austrian to sign Jos Verstappen instead. Ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Mercedes did confirm to GPblog that Verstappen will not join the team next season.
Mercedes are yet to announce a second driver, and George Russell's contract will run out at the end of the 2025 season. As a result, if in 2026, Verstappen would be open for a move, Toto Wolff will have some freedom in signing the Dutchman. Verstappen himself would not be the only driver of the highest callibre to bet on Mercedes ahead of a regulation change, as Lewis Hamilton did the same back in 2013 ahead of the hydrid era, where the Germans won every constructors' title from 2014 until 2021.
Another team principal, who formerly worked at Mercedes, James Vowles, also talked about something similar when he answered GPblog among others about signing Carlos Sainz, and that is getting in contact early with the driver. The Briton spent a lot of time selling their project to Sainz, that is effectively ground work for making a move happen.
The performance clauses in Verstappen's contract could also play an important role. If Red Bull's performance on track becomes worse in 2025, then the Dutchman has a higher chance to leave.
What can be against Toto Wolff's ambition is that Verstappen regularly declares that he does not imagine his entire life as a Formula One driver, and wants to test himself in other categories.
Therefore, GPblog presents you the question: "Will Max Verstappen ever join Mercedes?" Vote in the poll below and share your opinion in the comment section!
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11 September 2024
