The Dutch F1 pundit has restarted debate over the future of Max Verstappen, who is rumored to be linked to Mercedes, claiming he would “boost” Ferrari as Lewis Hamilton's teammate.
Verstappen has built the most overwhelming dominance in F1 history with Red Bull, achieving his third consecutive world championship victory from 2021.
Max Verstappen for Mercedes? Or to Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton?
Verstappen, 26, has won 46 of his last 68 races dating back to the start of the season in which he won his first title, and started 2024 with back-to-back wins from pole position in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
If Verstappen wins next weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, he will equal his record of 10 consecutive wins, just six months after surpassing Sebastian Vettel's record of nine in 2013.
Despite Verstappen's comfortable position at the pinnacle of the sport and his contract remaining until the end of the 2028 season, Verstappen's Red Bull future is in jeopardy given the recent turmoil involving team principal Christian Horner. exposed to
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Verstappen's father Jos accused the long-time team boss of “playing the victim when he's the one causing the problem” after an investigation into Horner's actions was dismissed, and after the Bahrain Grand Prix, Horner said: demanded his resignation.
Amid concerns that Verstappen could leave Red Bull in a week's time and join Mercedes in Saudi Arabia to replace Hamilton, Horner insisted there was “no greater team than the team”.
Charles Leclerc only recently signed a new long-term contract with Ferrari in January, seven days before Hamilton's surprise move was announced, but Dutch racer and F1 analyst Mike Hezemans believes Verstappen will also join the Scuderia. He proposes a theory that it is possible.
And he believes it would be “wise” for Hamilton to accept Verstappen as his Ferrari teammate in 2025.
He told the Dutch edition of RacingNews365.com: “Of course in F1 there is nothing written in the contract.
“If I were [Ferrari team principal Fred] Vasseur, I say yes. That way you can take in the best.
“But does Hamilton want that? Maybe he does, I think that's the smart thing to do.
“It would be a lot of fun. But will it happen? I don't think so. But if Verstappen moves to Ferrari, it would give Ferrari some kind of boost.”
Verstappen insisted to Saudi media last weekend that there was “no reason” to leave Red Bull anytime soon, but teased that Hamilton's surprise move to Ferrari proves anything can happen.
He said: “Actually, no one would have imagined that Lewis would move to Ferrari.
“In my life, it has nothing to do with F1 or anything, just life in general, but what happens, what happens to me, what happens around me, what affects me. You never know what to give.
“So I can never say 100 percent that it will happen and that's how I approach my life.
“But I don't think too much about it. I'm very relaxed, I'm very happy with the team and we're performing well, so there's no reason to move on.”
When asked if he would see his Red Bull contract through to the end, Verstappen stressed that performance would be the deciding factor.
He said: “Of course, that was always the intent of the contract. That's why we signed for so long to come here.
“And of course it's about the performance of the car.
“And, of course, there is a bit of a question mark with the new regulations applying from 2026 onwards, but we knew that when we signed the contract.
“But I also know what they've done for me in my career. So, of course, I'm definitely going to stay with this team, because I really enjoy this team. And I'm really happy within the team.”
“And as long as we're performing, there's no reason to leave.”
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