Max Verstappen has all but dismissed speculations that Fernando Alonso will join him at Red Bull next season, calling it a “strange” decision to recruit a “42-year-old”.
Amidst Red Bull’s off-track controversy, F1 rumours say Verstappen could leave the team at the end of the year to join Mercedes, with Alonso slated to replace him.
‘I find it unusual to sign a 42-year-old driver.’
However, it has been proposed that the Aston Martin may replace Sergio Perez and, along with Verstappen, form an all-World Champion lineup at Red Bull.
“Christian Horner has always been a very, very big fan of Fernando Alonso,” former driver and analyst Ralf Schumacher told Sky Deutschland. “Apparently there are big intentions in the background to bring Fernando Alonso into the cockpit next year.”
According to The Race, the Spaniard is “pushing very hard” to make the move happen, as his Aston Martin contract expires at the end of this season.
Verstappen, on the other hand, believes he would be a “strange” pick for Red Bull given the team’s history of internal promotion.
“I don’t care who sits beside me. I also mentioned it to the squad,” he told De Limburger. “I always believe in myself, and I consider myself the boss of everyone.
“But, if you ask me, it seems strange to sign a 42-year-old driver.” Red Bull has always had a tradition of training its own young drivers. Sergio Pérez’s signing was a deviation from this tendency, particularly for a 42-year-old driver.
“I get along well with Fernando, that’s not the issue, but I’m also thinking about the team’s future.” Finally, it is up to them (Red Bull) to decide who drives where.
Max Verstappen’s ‘can’t ignore me’ response to Mercedes speculations
Alonso isn’t the only driver mentioned in F1 rumors; Verstappen has been connected to a move to Mercedes, with Toto Wolff telling the media that he would “love” to sign the 26-year-old.
Verstappen, who revealed previous negotiations with Mercedes before joining Red Bull, believes Wolff’s statements are to be expected given his Formula One accomplishments, including three World Championships.
“He can’t do anything else. I understand why he does this. “You cannot ignore me,” he said.
“Even before Red Bull, we had negotiations with Mercedes. Then they stated, “You need to do this and that to be successful.” I believe I have shown how it should be done.
“They want me in that car, and I understand. A few years ago, there was some conflict between us and Mercedes.
When pressed for a ‘little bit more’ detail, he smiled and said, “I would like to say a little more, yes, haha.” But this can all be forgiven and forgotten. That is true for both parties.
“But that does not imply I believe I should be driving somewhere else right now. In addition, Mercedes does not currently have the fastest car. That actually is Red Bull.”
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