BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 29: Raymond Vermeulen, Manager of Max Verstappen, Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Jos Verstappen walk in the Paddock before the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on February 29, 2024 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Mercedes is on the lookout for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, who will be joining Ferrari at the end of the season. According to reports in Germany, Jos Verstappen, father of Max Verstappen, and Raymond Vermeulen, his manager, are set to meet with Mercedes team co-owners Toto Wolff, Jim Ratcliffe of Ineos, and Ola Kallenius, CEO of Mercedes Benz.
When asked about this at a recent event in New York, Wolff dismissed the rumors, stating that people often make up meetings and speculate about drivers. He emphasized that such discussions should take place behind closed doors and that the circulating information is not accurate.
Wolff, who has a long-standing relationship with Verstappen’s father, openly expressed his desire to hire Verstappen as Hamilton’s replacement. However, Verstappen is currently under contract with Red Bull until 2028. Despite internal conflicts within the team, including allegations of misconduct against team principal Christian Horner, Verstappen is on track to secure his fourth consecutive Formula 1 title with Red Bull, having won four out of five races this season.
The future of Adrian Newey, the team’s chief designer, is also uncertain. There are reports in the media suggesting that Newey is considering leaving Red Bull. Wolff acknowledged Newey’s importance in Formula 1 and stated that he is watching the situation as a fan.
Mercedes is bringing an update package to the Miami race after a challenging season so far. Hamilton’s best placement was second in the season’s first race in Shanghai, with his highest placement being seventh. His teammate, George Russell, achieved fifth place, and Mercedes currently holds fourth place overall.
Wolff expressed uncertainty about what to expect in Miami due to the unpredictable nature of the season. He attended the event in New York with Hamilton and mentioned that Hamilton is scheduled to take part in a Formula 1 demonstration on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The Mercedes car features a “WhatsApp button” on the steering wheel, allowing drivers to communicate instantly and safely with their engineers.
Wolff highlighted the innovative nature of this communication method and expressed pride in the collaborative effort behind its development.
