Max Verstappen could potentially have joined another team, which would have negatively impacted George Russell’s career with that particular car manufacturer. Verstappen’s loyalty to his current team, Red Bull, is expected to continue until the end of his contract in 2028. However, there were rumors circulating that he could consider a move to Mercedes after Ferrari made a swap. This speculation led some people to believe that Verstappen’s current position would be at risk if he made the switch.
Despite the rumors, Verstappen made it clear that no amount of money, not even $250 million, would tempt him to leave Red Bull. However, former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher suggested that Verstappen’s departure from Red Bull could create an interesting situation. Schumacher believed that Mercedes would be the best and most suitable choice for the three-time world champion.
If Verstappen were to go to Mercedes, this could potentially be a challenging situation for George Russell, as highlighted by Schumacher. Although Russell is considered a talented driver, he has made several mistakes. Therefore, if Verstappen were available on the driver market, Russell’s position would be at significant risk.
During the Canadian Grand Prix, both Mercedes drivers made several errors that cost them the race victory. Schumacher suggested that if Verstappen were driving the Mercedes car, the team could potentially have won the race. He also emphasized that Verstappen’s performance had a significant impact on the overall team performance.
In addition, Schumacher added that the current lack of success of Mercedes could only be corrected by having a world champion in their team. He also believed that Verstappen’s personality, described as conservative, pleasant, and sportsmanlike, would make him a good option for Mercedes. Therefore, Toto Wolff and the Mercedes team would likely do everything they could to ensure Verstappen’s presence in Formula 1.
Mercedes recently started making improvements to their car’s performance through updates during the season. The team’s start to the season is far from ideal, and Lewis Hamilton’s hope of ending the season on a high is gradually diminishing. As a result, the team is desperate to rediscover their form.
