1 Day After Helmut Marko’s $55,000,000 Jibe at Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen Shockingly Offers Solution to Pressurize Mercedes Into Rectifying a Huge Mistake

The direction in which the sport is heading has made Formula 1 a double-edged sword of sorts. While the real legacy is written on track for any given driver, now, the monetary aspect is as important if not more important. For 7x champion Lewis Hamilton, his legacy will always be defined by his exploits on the track. However, according to many, the Brit is as eager as anyone else to top the annals of F1 in both the on-track and off-track ventures.

Currently, though, Hamilton is failing at both. Mercedes are not pulling their socks up and the 38-year-old finds himself approaching the end of his illustrious career without anything to show for it in the dying embers of his time in this sport. To add insult to injury, while he’s no longer the top dog in a sporting sense, he’s also being overtaken as the most marketable man within the industry.

Max Verstappen chimes in with Helmut Marko’s salary comments

Recently Helmut Marko was quoted as taking a dig at Hamilton. F1-Insider.com quoted the Austrian as saying, “Apart from the sporting perspective, Lewis is anything but happy about the fact that he is no longer the best-earning driver in Formula 1. That is now Max Verstappen.” 

Verstappen currently accrues a staggering $55,000,000 salary package as compared to Hamilton’s $35,000,000 deal.

While a newly developing interest from Ferrari could change that, Verstappen has an alternate plan in mind for the 7x champion. When quizzed about his thoughts on Hamilton’s potential Ferrari move, he said, “It’s not my problem. It’s his decision. But I think he feels really happy at Mercedes,” as quoted by GPBlog.com.

Verstappen then went on to give Hamilton some solid negotiation advice! “But I think he feels really happy at Mercedes. I mean, they’ve won a lot together. Maybe it’s good [the rumors] because it ups the price a bit at the Mercedes side as well to pay him.”

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Ferrari will be aiming to partner the Brit alongside their star man, Charles Leclerc. However, could there be a twist in the tale?

Charles Leclerc comments on Lewis Hamilton swap

If Mercedes are willing to let Hamilton go, they will do so only on the condition of having a suitable replacement for him. And who better than Ferrari driver, Charles Leclerc. He’s been on the radar of the Silver Arrows for a while now, but what does the Monegasque make about this straight swap?

Speaking ahead of his home GP, the Monaco Grand Prix, he told the media, “For now, I am fully focused on the project I am in today, which is Ferrari. I fully trust and I am confident for the future, then we will see, but I am fully confident for the project of Ferrari.”

“I’m fully committed to Ferrari and I love Ferrari. It has always been a dream for me to be in this team, and my main priority is to win a world championship with this team, so it’s not something in my mind.”

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Is a straight swap between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc really beneficial for both Mercedes and Ferrari?