Verstappen opens door for Mercedes: 'All can be forgiven'

Max Verstappen does understand Toto Wolff's eagerness to bring him to Mercedes. The Mercedes team principal never misses an opportunity to brand Verstappen as his number one candidate. Verstappen can enjoy it and leaves the door open himself.

Anyone who has been following the 2021 Formula 1 season can probably hardly imagine Mercedes and Verstappen ever teaming up. Yet it has been talked about regularly in recent months. Wolff smells his chance to bring Verstappen to the German team as Lewis Hamilton's replacement due to the turmoil at Red Bull Racing. Max has to laugh about it, though.

"He can't do anything else either. I do understand why he does it. You can't ignore me. In the past, even before Red Bull, we had talks with Mercedes. Then they said: you have to do this and that to become successful. By now I think I have shown them how to do it. They would like to have me in that car, I can understand that. Look: a few years ago, of course, there was a bit more tension between us and Mercedes...''

Verstappen keeps the door open for Mercedes

Speaking to De Limburger, Verstappen himself also had to laugh at his last statement. After all, that is quite an understatement. Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were fighting hard for the world title in 2021, and there were some mutual arguements between the two sides. However, according to Verstappen, that hatchet has long since been buried.

"That can all be forgiven and forgotten. That's true from both sides. But that doesn't mean I think I should drive somewhere else now. On top of that, Mercedes do not have the fastest car at the moment. That is really Red Bull's."

Verstappen still has a contract with Red Bull Racing until 2028, but the turmoil within the team has also caused a question mark to hang over his future. Verstappen would like to stay with the team, but the important people within the team need to stay. If they do not, then talks with Mercedes or Aston Martin are not out of the question.