Mercedes tell Max Verstappen to bring Helmut Marko too, paddock whispers suggest
Rumours from F1 Japanese Grand Prix paddock suggest M♈ercedes have opened the door to Max Verstappen's ally
Mercedes are “very strongly” pursuing 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen and would even ꦏmake room for his all🐎y Helmut Marko.
Tom Clarkson, the host of the FIA press conferences with F1 drivers, shared what he has been told from within t𒈔he paddock about the intriguing driver market.
Verstappen is contracted ꦺby Red Bull until 2028 but has an exit clause if Marko, his long-time associate, also leaves t🌺he team.
Mercedes have admitted Verstappen is their No1 choice to replace Lewis Hamilton, who will go to Ferr♕ari next year.
Clarkson told the F1 Nation podcast about Versta🃏ppen: “His only option now is to go to Mercedes, isn’t it?
“Now that Fernando Alonso is in at Aston Martin.
“M💧ax will either stay at Red Bull or go to Meওrcedes.
“𝓡In Japan, I was told by several people that Toto Wolff is pursuing Max 🐲very strongly.
“He needs a signature signing because the last three years haven’t gone we꧟ll for the team.
“It would be a real statement of intent for the team if he gꦜot Max.
“It was even mentioned to me that he said to Max ‘bring Helmut Marko with you, if that’s wha🐼t it requires…’
“An Austrian super-team at the top of Mercedes?
“But is that going to happen? Will he sacrifice winning another world championship in 2025 with Red Bull?
“I find it hard to believe.
“I know see a bit of static in the driver market. I see Max staying, Checo staying, Fernando is sta꧑ying.”
Verstappen has insisted he will remain with Red Bull, where he is on course for a four♏th cons🍰ecutive F1 championship.
But that hasn’t stopped Wolff publicly insisting that Mercedes want him, amid the internal turmoil at Red ⛎Bull.
Alonso re-committing to Aston Martin has removeꦗd a key option from the driver market.
Lando 🤡Norris and Charles Leclerc are tied down by McLaren and 🍷Ferrari respectively.
The future of Sergio Perez﷽ alongside Verstappen is unclear because he is out of contract and 🐻under pressure.
But Perez’s early-season꧂ form, where he has finished P2 three times behind Verstappen, is the ideal form to result in a new contract.
James was a sports journalisꦦt at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
