Max Verstappen responds to speculation about Mercedes F1 join as he adds on Jos’ comments, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell weighing in.
More than the on-track scene, F1 has seen huge amount of off-track chatter since the winter of 2024 season. More than racing, plenty has happened involving almost all of the teams on the grid, with more so on the Red Bull side.
Amid the investigation of Christian Horner, Verstappen Sr added more dramas after his post Bahrain GP comments about tension within Red Bull and the Brit seemingly tearing apart the F1 outfit due to his troubles, which he was cleared off by independent barrister.
Since then, multiple reports have emerged about constant rifts between two camps, which has also created headlines about Verstappen making a bold move to Mercedes as early as in 2025. The eve of Saudi Arabian GP was filled up with questions on the topic.
While Verstappen sided with his dad – naturally – but he played down any further into the matter and his comments. The Dutchman used the PR line of wanting to focus on performance rather than off-track chatter about his own future too.
He does have a contract until 2028 but it certainly will have performance clauses. He has the intention to stay but didn’t wish to go any further than that. Hamilton, meanwhile, put him on the Mercedes wish list, which he felt was natural for a talent like the Dutchman.
Both stressed on the surprise move of Hamilton to Ferrari as a message to ‘anything can happen’. Russell too was fine to have Verstappen should he make a switch, as he felt any F1 team would be more than happy to have a driver like the Dutchman.
Move to Mercedes could happen –
Verstappen: “The thing is I think no one would have ever seen that Lewis would move to Ferrari. In my life – and it’s not related to F1 or whatever, it’s just general life – you never know what happens or what comes to you or whatever happens around you or what might influence you. So you can never say 100 per cent that’s how it’s going to be and I approach my life like that. But I also don’t think about it too much. I’m very relaxed, I’m very happy at the team, the performance is there – there’s no reason to move on.”
2026 situation with powertrain, so see-through contract –
Verstappen: “Of course, that has always been the intention of signing. That’s why we signed so long to be here. And of course, it’s about the performance of the car. And of course, from 2026 onwards, that is a bit of a question mark anyway with new regulations, but I knew that when I signed my contract. But I also know what they have done for me in my career, so the intention is, of course, absolutely to stay with this team because I really enjoy it and I’m also really happy within the team. And as long as we perform, there is no reason to leave.”
Situation with Jos –
Verstappen: “I’m the driver, I don’t know what’s happening higher up. But from my side, I’m contracted to focus on the performance side of things. That’s what I’ll focus on this weekend. What has been said in Bahrain from everyone is to just leave that behind and hopefully have a quieter weekend here. I guess he [Jos] clearly felt like that. Everyone in general, even if you have arguments or not, there are always things that can be worked out. Everyone is man enough and respectful enough to each other. I’ve not always agreed with things in general in F1, and that’s why it’s good to have a discussion about things. You might agree to disagree sometimes, that is sometimes what is happening in a relationship. That’s how it goes. From how I know him already in go-karting, my dad is very outspoken. He’s not a liar, that’s for sure.”
Own team together –
Verstappen: “We’re a team: it’s me, my dad and Raymond all together. That will always be like that, also. I guess he could have felt like that but I think from my side, it doesn’t matter being on one side or the other side. Of course, as a son of my dad, it would be weird to be on a different side. But from my side, I just want to focus on the performance side of things. I just want to have less talk of what we are doing as a team outside of the track, rather than the actual performance. We have a great car and look forward to a great year.”
Destabilise Red Bull –
Verstappen: “I don’t know. I mean, I hope not…. It shouldn’t be. It’s a strong company, strong team. A lot of strong team members. So normally not.”
Speculations of Verstappen to Mercedes –
Hamilton: “I think my moves have shown that anything’s possible. It’s going to be a really interesting next six months or so. I don’t have an extra scoop… I know that I’m sure Max is on the list. But I’m pretty sure he’s tied up. But I couldn’t see why he would leave a car that’s that good.”
After 2021, Mercedes fine to have Verstappen –
Hamilton: “I wouldn’t say I’m surprised, no, because he’s a great driver. Even back then, I don’t think Max, in that moment, he did what he had to do – it’s nothing on him, it was the sport that led us down. That wasn’t his fault. Me in his position, I would have done exactly the same thing. So there’s no issues there. If you run a team, you want to have the best driver, and you want to be the team that’s got a driver that brings in the eyeballs, brings in the sponsorship, and he is one of those. So I understand it, but it wouldn’t make sense, I would say, for him, but it would be interesting to see.”
Verstappen to Mercedes chatter –
Russell: “Yeah, I think, as I said last week in Bahrain, this is my third season now alongside Lewis, the greatest driver of all time, and I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job alongside him. So whoever were to line up alongside me next year or the years to come, I welcome anybody, welcome the challenge. You always want to go against the best, but ultimately for me, I’m just focused on myself. I believe in myself. I believe I can beat anybody on the grid. And, you know, you’ve just got to have that mentality.
“So, as I said, having Lewis as my benchmark for the last couple of years has been a pretty good benchmark for sure. I think any team wants to have the best driver line-up possible. And right now, Max is the best driver on the grid. So if any team had a chance to sign Max, they would 100% be taking it. So I think the question is more on the other side, on his side and Red Bull’s side. Obviously so much going on there. We don’t know what truly is going on behind closed doors and ultimately it’s none of our business right now. Yeah, I guess we’ll be excited.”
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