Mercedes might have already made contact with Max Verstappen in their search for a𓆉 Lewis Hamilton replacement, says Helmut Marko.

Hami🍬lton’s move to Ferrari in 2025💫 means Mercedes are already busily considering how to replace the seven-time F1 champion.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris are newly-contracted to their current teams while Verstap𒅌pen is tied down long-term at Red Bull.

But🦄 Red Bull’s Marko was꧟ asked if Mercedes might try to contact Verstappen.

“I൩ would be surprised if they hadn't,” he 🍬replied to .

“But Max is a very loyal driver.”

Hamilton will spend one final year at Mercedes, the team which has he🐻lped him achieve six of hisဣ seven championships.

Ma♏rko was asked what he expects from Hamilton this year, after a win-less two seasons.

“Lewis is an exceptional driver,” he replied.

“If they give him a car that is capable of winning [races] or even a World Championship, they will have to involveꦆ him until the 𝐆end – and so just jump over their shadow.”

Toto Wolff has insisted that Mercedes have no concerns over Hamilton’s “integrity” in his final year before moving to a dir🅷ec🤪t rival.

Red Bull, meanwhile, remain F1’s team to𒁃 beat after🐭 just one grand prix in 2024.

Vers𒊎tappen cruised to victory in Saturday's B🌌ahrain Grand Prix, with Sergio Perez second.

Last year they won all-but-one grands prix - can 🅺they do it again?

“There are als𝄹o route-specific parameters,” Marko insisted.

“If you don't get pole in☂ M🐬onaco or Singapore, it will be difficult to win.

“That's not our goal, of course we want to get close to thi♑s dream result, but the competition has gotten closer.

“Our goal is the championship.”

The RB20 shoc⛄ked much of the F1 paddock when, despite the dominance of last year’s car, it was revealed with a brave new concept.

“With all our know-how, we were 💃able ♓to develop a concept that was more revolutionary than evolutionary,” Marko said.

“So w🅺e could go to🧔 extremes without risking it being a flop.

“In addition, the word conservative simply does not exist in the minds of our technicians around Pierre Wache anꦅd Adrian Newey - th꧙at is also part of Red Bull's DNA.

“Yes, we surprised everyone with this car, on✃e look at the narro♏w side pods is enough.

“You can 🦹also see that tꦛhe entire field, let's call it, was based on our car. So our package fits.”