Purple Bull Racing chief Helmut Marko has refused to rule out the opportunity of Max Verstappen becoming a member of Mercedes to exchange Lewis Hamilton sooner or later sooner or later, however says ‘rather a lot must occur’ for the sensational swap to come back off.
World champion Verstappen signed a Purple Bull contract extension in March which is about to maintain him with the Milton Keynes-based squad till 2028, however Marko subsequently revealed that the deal comprises an unspecified ‘exit clause’ which might permit the Dutchman to depart earlier.
The 24-year-old has been a Purple Bull driver since 2016, having first entered F1 as a 17-year-old with sister squad Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2015, profitable 22 races and takes 14 pole positions within the course of.
Mercedes have dominated F1 because the starting of the turbo-hybrid period in 2014, however Purple Bull heave steadily improved in recent times, in the end profitable their first championship since 2013 when Verstappen beat Hamilton to the title on the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.
Verstappen is an immensely quick and naturally gifted driver, and it got here as no shock that Purple Bull sought to safe his long-term future within the quick aftermath of the 2021. With Hamilton’s present contract expiring on the finish of 2023, the 37-year-old might doubtlessly retire, which would go away Mercedes available in the market for a brand new elite stage driver to associate George Russell.
Marko mentioned that the animosity between the groups means the thought of Verstappen becoming a member of the Silver Arrows is unlikely, however not inconceivable.
‘There are efficiency clauses within the contract that might theoretically permit Max to exit,’ Marko mentioned. ‘[But] rather a lot must occur [for him to leave Red Bull]. And Max continues to be not a Mercedes fan.’
‘If we expertise a “crash” like in 2014, after we had completely no probability towards Mercedes on the engine facet, then it’s clear there may be an escape clause,’ Marko beforehand defined toFormel1.de when the deal was introduced.
78-year-old Marko attends every race weekend and oversees the event of Purple Bull’s younger drivers, that means he has performed a major position in Verstappen’s rise to turn into world champion.
The fifth spherical of the 2022 Components 1 season takes place this weekend in Florida, for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix.
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