Former Red Bull executive claims Max Verstappen would leave Red Bull and switch to Mercedes in search of ‘motivation’

Max Verstappen has won eight races in a row and is set to match Sebastian Vettel's decade long record.

Former Red Bull executive claims Max Verstappen would leave Red Bull and switch to Mercedes in search of ‘motivation’

Toto Wolff (Left, credits: Auto Evolution) and Max Verstappen (right, credits: Racefans)

Max Verstappen‘s 2023 season has been nothing short of domination, with an impressive 10 victories out of 12 races. His closest rival, Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, trails him by a staggering 125 points. The Dutch champion is now poised to secure his third consecutive championship, solidifying his status as one of Formula One’s elite.

Yet, this relentless success seems to have cast a shadow on Max Verstappen‘s motivation. The prospect of retiring once his Red Bull contract expires began to flicker in his mind. In an interview with CNN, he questioned the worth of spending so much time away from loved ones in pursuit of further glory. Verstappen admitted, “I’ve already achieved everything I wanted in Formula One, but I know I have a contract until 2028. I’ll be 31.” 

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Verstappen acknowledged that it was way too young but he also wanted to try other things in life. This apparent lack of motivation could be attributed to the absence of a challenging rival, as Verstappen consistently outpaces the competition. To rekindle his fading enthusiasm, former Red Bull employee Blake Hinsley has a radical suggestion – consider a switch to Mercedes.

Speaking on a Sky F1 podcast, Hinsley questioned, “What else does Max need to strive for apart from absolute perfection, 10 out of 10 every weekend?” He pondered, “Let’s say you are driving a Mercedes right now, the car is not great and it is a way off winning the championship right now.” Hinsley added, “Which one of those has more hooks to keep you invested? Maybe a couple of years in a slower car and lots of challenges would reignite some of that.”

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Blake Hinsley suggests a career move similar to that of Michael Schumacher’s

Max Verstappen and Michael Schumacher (Credits: Sports Rush)
Max Verstappen and Michael Schumacher (Credits: Sports Rush)

Mercedes, currently struggling with only one win in the past two years, offers a unique opportunity. They’ve seen moments of brilliance with a few podium finishes and a pole position at the Hungarian GP courtesy of Lewis Hamilton. Hinsley suggests that Verstappen could inject new life into the team, revitalizing his own flagging motivation in the process.

Hinsley’s idea parallels the career move made by the legendary Michael Schumacher in 1996. Schumacher departed from Benetton, where he’d won two titles, to join the struggling Ferrari team. Over four years, he transformed them into champions, clinching four consecutive titles and reviving the Italian squad’s glory.

Though Verstappen was once linked to Mercedes, Red Bull secured him at a young age. Their relationship soured, especially in 2021 when they fiercely contested the title, and Verstappen emerged victorious in a contentious battle. Max has nabbed the pole position for his home grand prix and is on the verge to equal Sebastian Vettel’s record of winning nine races in a row. 

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