Verstappen in Mercedes in 2022? 'Wolff has a good dialogue with them'

New era in the making

"Regardless of whether Mercedes continues to be the dominant team in any post-Hamilton future or whether its superiority is overhauled, Hamilton’s one-year contract may come to be seen as the signpost to a new era," Hughes wrote on The-Race.com. According to the journalist, it is therefore worrying news for Red Bull Racing that Hamilton's contract has been extended by just one year.

"Especially if there is a break clause in Verstappen’s contract relating to whether the team has a manufacturer engine partner," Hughes continued. According to the Brit, Mercedes still has a good relationship with the Verstappen family and this dates back to before Max Verstappen's debut.

Relationship between Mercedes and Verstappen not to everyone's liking

"Toto Wolff has maintained a good dialogue with the Verstappens ever since, sometimes to the irritation of Red Bull’s Christian Horner. The prospect of Hamilton retiring from driving duties at the end of this year, having achieved a record-breaking eighth title, is not so difficult to envision."

Hughes believes both Bottas and Hamilton could be replaced at the end of this year, leaving the team with a completely new line-up with George Russell and Verstappen. "If Mercedes then maintains its superiority into the new aero regulations then F1 might simply replace the Hamilton era with a Verstappen era."