F1 pundit claims Mercedes ‘would be silly’ not to try to sign Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen has been making his trade with Red Bull since 2016.

F1 pundit claims Mercedes ‘would be silly’ not to try to sign Max Verstappen

Toto Wolff and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

Lewis Hamilton‘s bombshell move to Ferrari has opened up a vacancy at Mercedes. Toto Wolff is actively looking at driver options for his team for the 2025 season. Amidst this, Max Verstappen was the prime candidate to fill in the empty seat of the seven-time world champion. However, the Dutchman likely wouldn’t budge from his Red Bull deal for Brackley.

Max Verstappen had clearly noted that even ‘$250 Million’ wouldn’t see him exit the Austrian constructor in F1. Toto Wolff had however not declined the possibility of witnessing the 26-year-old join Mercedes. F1 pundit, Naomi Schiff reckoned that the teams would look for the best driver options for the 2025 season onwards. Additionally, if Mercedes had even a small hint of a possibility of acquiring Verstappen, they would be ‘silly’ not to undertake the Dutchman.

The teams are going to be looking for the best possible driver. If they have a hint that Max Verstappen is available, or could be available, then they would be silly not to attempt to get him on board.
Naomi Schiff said on the Sky F1 podcast (H&T: crash.net).
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Additionally, Schiff recalled the pressures of being an F1 driver and performing the best possible results. The Rwandan presenter believed that a driver’s performance on the track was an ‘audition’ to prove their racing mettle. The most recent driver’s drive is considered valid when considering them for a spot in a particular team. Hence, this was the reason that George Russell was under constant pressure at Mercedes.

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Every performance on track is an audition for drivers to prove themselves in whatever way - whether that’s to secure a contract or be seen as the No1 driver. Every last drive is what people remember. So I understand why George is putting himself under pressure.
Naomi Schiff added.

Naomi Schiff claims George Russell will be ‘frustrated’ of losing lead driver role to Max Verstappen

Toto Wolff had previously claimed that George Russell would be the lead driver after Hamilton’s exit. However, a driver like Max Verstappen could easily gain the lead role purely by his race craft. Hence, the Briton would run the highest risk of losing the lead driver status at Mercedes if the Dutchman were to join the team.

George Russell and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)
George Russell and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

Naomi Schiff reckoned that the Englishman was aware of this condition and this was the reason that he was under pressure. The 26-year-old is looking at ways to prove his racing skills to the team. Schiff believed that Russell’s race win would be the best-case scenario to eliminate the risk of being teamed up with Verstappen at Mercedes in the coming season.

George will understand that, while it might be frustrating. That might be why he is pushing so hard. He is thinking ‘what can I do to prove that I am enough - we have got one moment here to potentially have a victory, which we haven’t had the chance to do in many months, could this be the one thing I could do to calm them down, and turn their heads away’.
Naomi Schiff noted.

Verstappen will continue to showcase his racing talent with Red Bull despite better conditions elsewhere. The Dutchman will maintain his loyalty to the energy drink manufacturing giant in F1. Additionally, Verstappen might just even consider retiring with Milton Keynes to boast one of the best careers of any Red Bull driver.

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