Red Bull is apparently sure that their top driver, Max Verstappen, will not leave for Mercedes, despite the team’s CEO, Toto Wolff, attempting to woo him away. There has been a lot of speculation about where Verstappen will go next, particularly after he stated that he may leave to support his team adviser, Helmut Marko.
However, Red Bull believes Verstappen will not leave anytime soon, according to The Mirror. He told reporters in Australia this weekend that he intends to continue with his present contract, which runs until 2028.
This would frustrate Wolff, who was hoped to add Verstappen to his squad to replace Lewis Hamilton, who will join Ferrari at the end of the season. Wolff has even had private conversations with Verstappen and his father Jos to attempt to resolve the situation, but there have been no public negotiations regarding Verstappen joining Mercedes.
The possibility of super advisor Marko leaving Red Bull, which spurred Verstappen’s vow to resign, appears to have passed for the time being. The primary participants in the team’s internal battle have managed to maintain an uneasy peace. Marko’s attempts to remove Horner from his role were unsuccessful, but it appears that his friendship with Verstappen has ensured his own position. Both sides have agreed that it is in their best interests to continue working together for the time being to help the Dutchman win a fourth consecutive F1 drivers’ championship.
Horner’s position remains strong, with support from not only Red Bull principal shareholder Chalerm Yoodivhya, but also Austrian CEOs Franz Watzlawick and Oliver Mintzlaff. However, he is still facing an allegation of inappropriate behaviour because the female coworker who filed the complaint has challenged the company’s decision to dismiss the grievance.
She has also filed a complaint with the FIA and intends to take the matter to an employment tribunal if her appeal fails. Regardless, despite her present suspension, it is understood she aspires to return to work for Red Bull Racing.
Wolff, however, has been accused of having a hidden agenda after publicly courting Verstappen as he searches for Hamilton’s replacement. The Mercedes chief has revealed that Verstappen would be his top choice to partner up with George Russell next season, but Jacques Villeneuve believes Wolff is playing a clever game.
“I can’t see Toto Wolff wanting Max. “The only way he would entertain the idea would be to irritate Red Bull,” Villeneuve stated.
“I cannot picture him at Mercedes because they lost the championship to Red Bull and Max. It wouldn’t be because he genuinely wanted Max. “It would be more about wanting to get at Red Bull.”
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