Time: 2024-07-22
The first step to resolve the final remaining Formula One seats available for 2025 has now taken place . Dr. Helmut Marko has put pen to paper which will see him stay with the Red Bull Racing outfit until at least the end of the 2026 season . This will halt the speculation that Mercedes is about to sign the world champion driver who has been disturbed by internal fighting within the energy drinks organisation . Verstappen now sits 84 points ahead of Lando Norris who is in second place in the drivers title race , but with 12 reached of the season remaining a fourth consecutive championship for Verstappen is not assured.
Marko reveals thoughts of leaving
Rumors have swirled around the Red Bull Racing outfit that Verstappen could exercise an exit clause to excuse his from his contract which runs to 2028 , in particular should his friend and mentor Dr. Helmut Marko leave the team . The 81 year old consultant revealed earlier this season he had considered leaving Red Bull at there end of last season.
Toto Wolff has hinted Mercedes wo n't be committing to a driver decision for F1 2025 until the possibility of tempting Max Verstappen is no more . Mercedes is on the hunt for a driver to replace the departing Lewis Hamilton , with the seven - time F1 World Champion leaving Brackley after over a decade in order to join Scuderia Ferrari . Carlos Sainz briefly appeared to be an option for the Brackley - based team but , with different ideas on how quickly to make a deal happen , the Spaniard now appears to be a more likely candidate for Williams or Alpine.
Wolff has also made no secret of the fact he views reigning World Champion Max Verstappen as an ideal replacement for Hamilton , with Max 's father Jos spotted on multiple occasions in discussion with Mercedes personnel in the paddock this season . The German , who won the 2016 title with Mercedes before immediately retiring from F1 , said " That can only be a certain Max Verstappen , who has n't made his mind up yet , if I can just jump in there!"
Verstappen has recently distanced himself from the prospect of a switch away from Red Bull , which is understood to be made possible , if he desires , based on a contract clause related to Helmut Marko 's ongoing employment with Red Bull . The Dutch driver has made clear his intention to stay with Red Bull for next season , confirming in the drivers press conference in Austria that he will be with Red Bull next year.
With Verstappen settling in alongside Daniel Ricciardo , Sainz realized the chance of promotion from Toro Rosso was slim and so he left for the recently re - acquired Renault works outfit . Carlos Sainz is the no brain signing for Red Bull Racing as the permanent replacement for Sergio Perez . With Marko now committed until 2026 which ties down Max for the intervening period , maybe the discussions will quickly turn to Sainz as the solution for Red Bull to claim an eighth constructors title in 2025 to match their arch rivals Mercedes.
As for the rest of the driver market , there is something instinctive that tells Toto Wolff " Do n't rush " in making a decision . Wolff hinted that he is waiting until the possibility of tempting Max Verstappen is no more before committing to someone else . With a resurgent Mercedes claiming victory at the last two Grand Prix in Austria and Great Britain , Toto Wolff had again upped the anti when asked about the possibility of Verstappen joining the Brackley squad . Wolff teased the assembled media with talks of another Mercedes dominant power unit in the pipeline , which could see them again dominate F1 as they did from 2014 - 2021.
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