
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Turkish Grand Prix – Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Turkey – October 10, 2021 Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas celebrates after winning the race with second placed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen REUTERS/Umit Bektas

via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Turkish Grand Prix – Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Turkey – October 10, 2021 Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas celebrates after winning the race with second placed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Max Verstappen is the poster boy of the Red Bull Racing team. The Dutch driver joined the team in the early stages of the 2016 season and quickly made himself as the main driver for the team. He has a contract with the team till the end of the 2023 season. There were some reports that he might leave the team to join Mercedes, but Helmut Marko hopes he will stay with the team for the long term.
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Marko gives his views on Max Verstappen’s contract
As reported by Motorsport. tr, the Austrian recognizes the Mercedes has been the dominant team of the Turbo-Hybrid era and Verstappen might end up there. But he is optimistic that Max will stay with the team for a long time.
“The superiority that Mercedes has dominated since the hybrid engine era is gone. I’m too optimistic for 2022,” said Marko.

via Getty
NUERBURG, GERMANY – OCTOBER 11: Second-placed Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing talks with Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner, Masashi Yamamoto of Honda, and Red Bull Racing Team Consultant Dr. Helmut Marko in parc ferme during the F1 Eifel Grand Prix at Nuerburgring in Nuerburg, Germany. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
There is a clause in Verstappen’s contract that will allow him to leave the team at the end of the 2021 season. But it looks highly unlikely that the Dutch driver will leave the team after seeing their pace in 2021.
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McLaren CEO Zak Brown had earlier suggested that Verstappen and Russell could join Mercedes in 2022. While Russell joined Mercedes for the 2022 season, there is no news of Verstappen moving teams anytime soon.
“I think we’ll see Max and Russell at Mercedes in 2022. Max has the experience and the youth, George has the youth. If I was at Mercedes, that would be a great line-up for the next five years.” said Brown.
Max is currently leading the world championship by 2 points driving for Red Bull. So the chances of him leaving the team for Mercedes are very slim.
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Will Max go to Mercedes in 2022? Let us know.
READ MORE: Who Owns the Red Bull F1 Team?
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