Rumors about Max Verstappen switching from Red Bull to Mercedes are swirling and won’t die down. Here’s the latest buzz.
- F1 personality Eddie Jordan thinks there’s a ‘conspiracy’ behind the scenes pointing to Verstappen heading to Mercedes at some point.
- David Coulthard, however, feels Verstappen is happy at Red Bull but doesn’t rule out a future move.
- Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull runs until 2028, but Toto Wolff’s interest in him stirs the pot.
- A secret meeting involving Mercedes leaders might be hinting at a serious effort to lure Verstappen away.
Those persistent Max Verstappen-to-Mercedes rumors just keep gaining traction. Eddie Jordan, F1’s seasoned pundit, thinks there might be a ‘conspiracy’ unfolding, making him believe Verstappen will drive for Mercedes ‘at some stage’.
David Coulthard sits more on the fence. He thinks Verstappen will stay with Red Bull next season but acknowledges a possible future switch. He also pointed out that Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull extends through to the end of 2028.
Much of the speculation is fueled by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s repeated public interest in Verstappen. Even though Verstappen said he’ll be with Red Bull next season, Wolff questioned his commitment. This has led Jordan to ponder the existence of a deeper plot.
Jordan shed light on some behind-the-scenes dynamics, including the strained relationship between Verstappen’s father and Red Bull boss Christian Horner. “Now when people make those kinds of comments, the conspiracy inside my head tells me ‘is this something that’s unfolding?’” Jordan remarked.
Coulthard compared the situation to Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, a risky gamble. He emphasized that changing teams doesn’t always lead to better outcomes. However, he didn’t dismiss the Mercedes speculation entirely, stating, “Well he could go to Mercedes. He can’t go to Ferrari for the next two years.”
Adding to the intrigue, Jordan mentioned reports about Toto Wolff, along with Mercedes’ top brass and INEOS, pooling funds to meet Verstappen’s salary demands. “In Monaco, there was a meeting between Toto, Jim Radcliffe of Ineos, Ola Källenius who is the executive of Mercedes, and together they put together a fighting fund to cover off the possibility of a salary requirement to cover Max.”
So, don’t be shocked if Max Verstappen ends up in a Mercedes seat in the future.
Source: Planetf1
