Max Verstappen and Mercedes have been arch-rivals since 2021. In the turbo-hybrid era, there was no driver or team that could challenge the hegemony of the German team. For eight years, the Silver Arrows were at the top of the sport. They had the fastest car and the greatest racer. Moreover, Toto Wolff’s team won eight constructor titles in a row. They also won seven driver’s world championships from 2014 to 2020. In 2021, the Brackley team won the constructor title but lost the driver’s title to the new world champion. It was none other than Max Verstappen. He has won three consecutive driver’s world championships on the trot.
Clearly, the Dutch racer is the favorite to win the driver’s title in 2024. On the other hand, Mercedes has been dealing with all sorts of problems since 2022. They don’t have the fastest car anymore. Lewis Hamilton has remained winless since 2022. On top of that, he is leaving the team after the current season. Mercedes is eager to find a suitable replacement for the great Briton. It won’t be easy, but they may not have to look further. Despite their rivalry, Toto Wolff said he is open to bringing Verstappen to Mercedes. Now, the fans wonder what the odds of that happening are.
Former F1 Racer Claimed Max Verstappen And Mercedes Will Close The Deal Soon
Johnny Herbert, a long-time Sky F1 pundit, mentioned if the “Christian Horner show” does not end soon, the Red Bull team could rip apart quite easily. The former F1 driver mentioned the Red Bull team principal could force Max Verstappen out of the team if he “Arrogantly stays put” or even tries to. Herbert also feels the genius car designer Adrian Newey can follow the current three-time champion if Horner stays in situ. Lately, the three-time GP winner Herbert told BetIdeas that he heard from an anonymous source that the deal between Mercedes and Max Verstappen is “On the brink of completion.”
Moreover, Herbert feels the Verstappen team can use it as a power play. However, Max will surely not enjoy the Mercedes car after what he has been driving for the last three years with Red Bull. Herbert agrees with Jos Verstappen that all these shenanigans are ripping the Austrian outfit apart. Moreover, Red Bull is on the brink of losing their biggest asset. The former F1 driver clearly said, “Their biggest asset is not Horner but Max Verstappen.” Herbert said Max binds the team together, allowing them to achieve what they have done for the past two years.
Will Adrian Newey Reunite With Max At The Silver Arrows?
Johnny Herbert said there is a strong possibility that Newey and Verstappen will join Mercedes if they happen to leave the Austrian outfit. Moreover, as Max puts it, Herbert agrees that the future of Helmut Marko will determine the Dutchman’s plans. On Tuesday, PlanetF1.com reported that Max Verstappen has a contract clause that allows him to leave Red Bull as soon as the long-serving advisor leaves. Moreover, there is a chance that this clause was added to the contract without Christian Horner’s knowledge.
Otherwise, the contract states Max should stay part of the team till 2028. Anyway, Herbert says if Newey joins Mercedes, fans will expect him to turn things around for them. The three-time GP winner added that Lewis left the German team because he didn’t think he would get a car from them to win his coveted eighth title. It makes sense. But Herbert still says Max moving to Mercedes makes “No logical choice.”
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