Mercedes’ 2016 Desires Ultimately Dethroned Lewis Hamilton From F1 Prestige at the Hands of Rival Max Verstappen

The 2016 mid-season swap between Max Verstappen and Daniil Kvyat is one of the most iconic moments in modern F1. The Red Bull F1 team promoted a young 18-year-old Verstappen into the team over Kvyat.

In his conversation at the Cambridge Union, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner revealed the real reason behind the swap. The Brit mentioned they had to act quickly as another rival was lurking to poach the Dutch driver.

“There was also a termination clause in Verstappen’s contract. We knew that Mercedes was very actively courting Verstappen. So the question was whether we would make a difficult choice for Kvyat. In order to bind Verstappen to us in the long term, we had to facilitate the change,” said Horner.

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While the decision was highly scrutinized at the time, it clearly worked out. Even in 2022, Horner mentioned that he does not regret making that decision.

Red Bull team boss stands by the Max Verstappen-Daniil Kvyat swap

Both drivers have had very different trajectories in their careers. While the Dutch driver has become arguably the best driver in the sport and won a world championship, Kvyat is currently not in F1 and never got his career back on track after the swap.

“With two teams we were able to accommodate that substitution, try to build on Kvyat’s career, and give Verstappen the chance. That has, of course, paid off when we look at the victories and the world title that Verstappen won in 2021,” said the Red Bull team boss.

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The move clearly paid off as Verstappen not only won his first race when he drove for Red Bull for the first time but also beat Lewis Hamilton in the 2021 season to crush Mercedes’ hopes.

To the German team wanting Verstappen, to him beating them for a world championship, it is quite poetic. One could imagine what would have happened if the 2021 world champion joined Mercedes in 2016 instead of Red Bull. Would he have beaten Hamilton in the same car years later?