Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has poured ice on a potential Max Verstappen-Mercedes tie-up in the future, citing simmering bad blood between the two parties.
Speculation is in full flight about who will inherit Lewis Hamilton’s plum seat at Mercedes when the Briton transfers to Ferrari at the end of this season.
The unexpected vacancy alongside George Russell has encouraged pundits to write up their shortlist of candidates for the coveted drive, while Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has said that “changes provide opportunity” and a chance to be bolder with his selection.
Verstappen is theoretically contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028. But it would be a surprise if the Dutchman’s covenant did not include an escape clause in his favor to cover any sudden and unexpected downturn in performance of his team.
Hamilton and Verstappen's intense 2021 championship battle painted a picture of intense rivalry, marked by heated exchanges and controversial incidents, like the pair’s spectacular run-in at Silverstone from which Verstappen escaped miraculously unscathed.
Accusations and verbal jabs flew freely from both camps, but most notably from Wolff towards Verstappen.
Beyond Verstappen’s loyalty to Red Bull and his strong working relationship with the team, Marko believes these past tensions coupled with Wolff’s perceived unfair criticism of Verstappen, make a tie-up between the three-time world champion and Mercedes a very unlikely proposition.
"Toto will try, but he will not be successful,” Marko told Sport.de.
"Max has a good memory and has not forgotten Mercedes' accusations. The crash at Silverstone in 2021 and the season finale in Abu Dhabi are examples of this."
Regardless of who will fill Hamilton’s seat at the Brackley squad, Marko believes that the Briton’s move to the Scuderia is “the best thing that could have happened to Formula 1.”
"There are two reasons for it: the fascination with Ferrari and that Hamilton no longer has confidence in Mercedes,” he added.
“I think this transfer will strain the friendly relationship between Wolff and Fred Vasseur. Wolff has actually always promoted Vasseur in Formula 2, and now this.
"Leclerc has an advantage when it comes to one lap. Hamilton, however, is stronger over a full year and will assert himself politically as Ferrari's global superstar."
