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Max Verstappen with Toto Wolff (Source: Twitter/X)
Red Bull superstar Max Verstappen has been phenomenal in the last few years. His amazing on-track performances have helped him to lead the driver’s leadership board. Despite having a long-term deal with Red Bull, there are various reports that Verstappen might look to make a move to some other team.
According to the latest news reports, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is looking to pull Verstappen out of Red Bull and fill the void left by Lewis Hamilton in the squad. It’s worth noting that Verstappen's commitment to Milton Keynes until the conclusion of the F1 2028 season hinges significantly on the presence of Helmut Marko as a consultant and advisor within the team.
Although the specifics of Verstappen's contract remain undisclosed, typical contracts of this nature often incorporate various provisions and conditional exits that could facilitate an earlier separation if either party desires. Notably, the significant regulatory changes in F1 expected in 2026, coupled with Red Bull's transition to Red Bull Powertrains, replacing Honda, likely entail escape clauses for Verstappen post that season.
‘There are so many factors’, Wolff had desired to bring Max Verstappen!
During the recently concluded Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff spoke about the prospects who might replace Lewis Hamilton from the next season. Speaking about them, Wolff expressed his desire to bring Max Verstappen.
He had said, “There are so many factors that play a role for a driver joining. Clearly, when you look at it from the most rational point of view, you can say: ‘That’s the quickest car in the hands of the quickest driver.’ But I don’t think this is the only reason you stay where you are.”
“I think, for simple minds, that might be the only reason why you stay in a car and that’s it, but maybe there are more depths for some people that consider other factors too. I think that Max has that. In that respect, are we able to convince him? I don’t think it’s a matter of convincing.”
“I think that Max Verstappen knows motor racing better than anyone, he will take decisions that he feels are good for him. I think a few factors play a role, but he’s the one that is going to trigger some more domino stones to fall in afterwards. Everybody is waiting for what he’s going to do”, he further added.