The Red Bull racer is being considered as a potential successor to Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
Max Verstappen has left the door open for a future move to Mercedes from Red Bull if conditions at his current team change.
Following Lewis Hamilton’s decision to switch to Ferrari, Mercedes is on the lookout for a new driver for the 2025 season, and Verstappen’s name has been floated as a potential fill for Hamilton’s spot amid internal issues at Red Bull.
Although Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull runs until the end of 2028, discussions over the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend suggested that should Helmut Marko, the Motorsport Advisor for Red Bull, leave the team, Verstappen might reconsider his position.
Before securing his 56th career victory, Verstappen spoke about the rumors of a switch to Mercedes, indicating that his decision would hinge on being in the most competitive car available, echoing Team Principal Toto Wolff’s sentiments.
“Well you know the thing is that no-one would have ever realized or seen that Lewis would have moved to Ferrari. In my life, and it doesn’t matter that it is not related to F1, just general life, you never know what is going to happen or what comes to you, whatever happens around you or what might influence you,” Verstappen told the media, according to RacingNews365.
“So you can never say 100% that that is how it is going to be [and I won’t go to Mercedes in the future]. I approach my life like that, but I also don’t think about it too much. I am very relaxed and happy at the team, and happier that the performance is there.”
