Max Verstappen has been a Red Bull driver ever since he debuted in F1. Albeit, he was initially part of the sister team of the Austrian outfit Torro Rosso. However, it did not take a really long time for Red Bull boss Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko to promote Verstappen to the senior team. However, the Dutch racer, who debuted at 17 in F1, had to wait a while to win his first-ever Driver’s World championship. After all, for eight years in a row, Mercedes did not stop until 2022. Moreover, it was Max Verstappen who put an end to the Mercedes streak of domination in the constructor as well as driver’s world titles.
In 2021, the Dutchman broke the winning streak of Lewis Hamilton. Since then, the Dutch sensation has never looked back. Currently, he is on his way to winning his fourth consecutive title. He will be the second Red Bull racer after Sebastian Vettel to win four titles in a row. However, there is a chance that the successful collaboration between Red Bull and Max might not last long. Since the internal rift started in the Austrian outfit, rumors suggest Max Verstappen might make a surprise move to Mercedes.
Max Verstappen Revealed His Thoughts On Making A Mercedes Move
Prior to winning his 56th Grand Prix in Formula One, Max Verstappen shared his thoughts on a possible switch to the German team. Albeit, Toto Wolff feels Mercedes is not yet worthy of providing the Dutchman with the fastest car. However, Max Verstappen told the media, including RacingNews365, that nobody could see Hamilton going to Ferrari. Citing Hamilton’s move, the reigning triple-time champion mentioned nobody really knows when in life something might happen and might influence one. Hence, Verstappen noted that he can never really say that there is a 100% chance that he won’t join Mercedes.
At present, the Dutch racer says he feels relaxed and happy with the team. Since the performance is there, he has never been happier. Moreover, Max is the most dominant racer in recent times, thanks to the superior car. If the team can handle the internal rift and focus on the performance on the track, the Austrian outfit can still keep winning. They can still be unstoppable. Hence, it won’t make much sense for Verstappen to leave Red Bull when he is still on top. For instance, Lewis Hamilton decided to leave Mercedes when he had been winless for two years.
Verstappen’s Loyalty To Helmut Marko Will Make The Big Difference
It was the 80-year-old Red Bull senior advisor who brought Max to their sister team. Max Verstappen has often spoken about his loyalty to Helmut Marko. Lately, after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Marko mentioned the team can suspend him ahead of the Australian GP. But it might not sit well with the current triple-time champion. Albeit, he has a contract with Red Bull that lasts till 2028.
But after winning the Saudi Arabian GP, the Dutch racer warned the Red Bull team of his loyalty to Marko, saying, “If he goes, then I go.” At present, the situation does not look too good in the Austrian outfit. Apparently, there is a power struggle going on between Marko and Christian Horner. Max can perhaps influence the decision on who the real boss is.
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