Red Bull Racing seems to be concerned about Mercedes’ interest in potentially hiring Max Verstappen. Toto Wolff, Christian Horner, and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO) are involved in the discussions.
Red Bull Racing has heavily invested in Verstappen over the past decade. Since his debut with Toro Rosso in 2015, he has been a crucial part of the Austrian team’s plans in Formula 1. However, it appears that Mercedes is determined to make an effort to lure Verstappen away from Milton Keynes.
Verstappen is currently under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028. The Dutch driver has expressed his satisfaction with the Austrian team as they continue to dominate the grid. However, he has previously stated that he will stay with the team that offers him the best chance of winning.
Red Bull acknowledges that Mercedes must first improve their car to have a chance of signing Verstappen. Even the CEO of Mercedes has hinted at his interest in attracting Max Verstappen for 2026. In response, Red Bull has made it clear that the Dutch driver will continue to race for them. This raises the question: Is Red Bull concerned about Toto Wolff’s attempts to hire Max Verstappen?
Max Verstappen has previously stated that not even a $250 million offer from Mercedes would convince him to leave Red Bull if the Silver Arrows do not have a competitive car. Therefore, in the short term, Christian Horner may not have anything to worry about. However, as competition on the grid becomes more intense, circumstances may change.
The Mercedes has made significant progress in car development this year, coming close to defeating Verstappen in the Canadian Grand Prix. This has put pressure on Red Bull, forcing Verstappen to push himself to the limit to win races. This could potentially raise doubts in Verstappen’s mind about his future with Red Bull.
In addition, Red Bull plans to develop its own power units in partnership with Ford for 2026. This is a risky move for the Austrian team. On the other hand, Mercedes has a strong track record when it comes to power units, especially with the start of new regulations. This could be an important factor if Verstappen considers his options outside of Red Bull.
Christian Horner is well aware that, despite Verstappen being under contract until 2028, anything can happen in Formula 1. Red Bull will be pushing to convince Verstappen that they are the best team for the foreseeable future. However, it remains to be seen how the current world champions will fare for the remainder of the 2024 season.
