Mercedes is in search of a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time F1 World Champion, who will be joining Ferrari at the end of the season. According to reports in Germany, Jos Verstappen, the father of Max Verstappen, and Raymond Vermeulen, his manager, are set to meet with Mercedes team co-owners Toto Wolff, Jim Ratcliffe of Ineos, and Ola Kallenius, the CEO of Mercedes Benz.
When asked about this at a recent event in New York, Wolff dismissed the rumors, stating that people often fabricate meetings and speculate about the drivers. He emphasized that such discussions should take place behind closed doors and that the information that has been circulating is not accurate.
Wolff, who has a longstanding relationship with Verstappen’s father, has openly expressed his desire to sign Verstappen as Hamilton’s replacement. However, Verstappen is currently under contract with Red Bull until 2028. Despite internal conflicts within the team, including allegations of inappropriate behavior against team boss Christian Horner, Verstappen is on track to secure his fourth consecutive F1 Title with Red Bull, having already won four out of five races this season.
The future of Adrian Newey, the team’s top designer, is also uncertain. There have been media reports suggesting that Newey is considering leaving Red Bull. Wolff acknowledged Newey’s significance in Formula 1 and stated that he is observing the situation as a fan.
Mercedes is bringing an upgrade package to the Miami race following a challenging season thus far. Hamilton’s best finish was second place in the season’s first sprint in Shanghai, with his highest placement otherwise being seventh. His teammate, George Russell, achieved a fifth-place finish, and Mercedes currently holds fourth place overall.
Wolff expressed uncertainty about what to expect in Miami due to the unpredictable nature of the season. He attended the event in New York with Hamilton and mentioned that Hamilton is scheduled to participate in a Formula 1 demonstration run on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The Mercedes car features a ‘WhatsApp button’ on the steering wheel, allowing drivers to communicate with their engineers instantly and securely.
Wolff highlighted the innovative nature of this communication method and expressed pride in the collaborative effort behind its development.