Potential Verstappen move to Mercedes “ruled out”

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has said that a Max Verstappen move to Mercedes can be “ruled out.” Rumors were going around that Verstappen could take over Lewis Hamilton’s position on the British racing team next season. Hamilton will be racing his last season for Mercedes in 2024 before he joins Ferrari for the 2025 season.

“Too much has happened in the past, and Max has a very good memory,” Marko told Austrian website oe24.at. Marko is referring, among other things, to the collision between Hamilton and Verstappen at Silverstone in 2021. Hamilton drove Verstappen off the track, and the Dutchman shot into the tire pile at full speed. Verstappen has also not forgotten the events after the bizarre season finale of that year in Abu Dhabi. “The incident in Abu Dhabi runs deep,” said Marko.

After that, Verstappen won his first world title, overtaking Hamilton in the last lap. A controversial safety car phase preceded it. Mercedes lodged a protest immediately after the race and wanted Verstappen to be stripped of the title.

Verstappen has a contract until 2028 with Red Bull. He has won three world titles with the Austrian team since being recruited for the Austrian racing team by Marko at 16 years of age in 2016. Marko has overseen the Red Bull driver development program since 1999 and became an adviser for the team in 2005.