In a surprising turn of events, Lewis Hamilton has just inked a contract extension with Mercedes, prolonging his stay with the Brackley team until 2025. The news came as a relief to the Mercedes team and Hamilton’s fans, securing his presence for the foreseeable future. After the seven-time world champion’s decision came to light his arch-rival, Max Verstappen seems to be unflinched, riding high on success with two consecutive titles under his belt and a third seemingly within reach with an impressive record of 11 wins in 13 races this season. However, amidst the electrifying atmosphere of Hamilton’s contract renewal, Verstappen has dropped a bombshell revelation that has sent shockwaves.

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have been an almost invincible pair since they teamed up. This extension solidifies Hamilton’s role as an F1 mainstay, and with it comes the ambition to set new records, possibly even surpassing Michael Schumacher’s record for the most seasons spent with a single constructor. But Verstappen has always hinted at his retirement plans from F1, mentioning the toll it takes on his personal life due to the lack of time. Verstappen had also hinted that he may consider retiring from the sport earlier than expected, raising questions about his long-term commitment to F1. But in the wake of Hamilton’s electrifying news, Max Verstappen had something quite startling to share.

In a Bloomberg Television interview, Max Verstappen revealed, “I think retiring at 28 for me is probably a bit too soon.” This statement comes at a time when Verstappen has been openly contemplating life beyond F1. Earlier speculations hinted at a potential exit in 2028 when his contract with Red Bull ends due to poor quality of life & competitiveness.

His revelation doesn’t just pose questions about his F1 future but also complicates the championship dynamics, especially in light of Hamilton’s recent contract extension. If Verstappen decides to stick around longer than expected, this could mean more years of intense Hamilton-Verstappen rivalry, an element that has re-energized the sport. Or is Hamilton’s contract the driving force behind this revelation?

Whatever, the real reason is, this day is for sure turning out to be exciting with Hamilton’s contract extension and Verstappen not retiring in 2028. Although there have been speculations already about who could replace Max Verstappen if he had decided to go the other way around.

Read more: 4 Word Warning Fired at Max Verstappen & Co. by Lewis Hamilton After Strengthening Terms With Mercedes

Who could be Max Verstappen’s potential replacement?

Max Verstappen’s success in F1 has been a result of Red Bull’s aggressive approach towards nurturing young talent. However, this approach has also had its drawbacks, with other drivers in Red Bull’s program being affected by Verstappen’s rapid rise. Verstappen’s potential departure would pose a challenge for Red Bull in finding a suitable replacement for their star driver.

Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft believes that Lando Norris would be an ideal replacement for Verstappen at Red Bull. Norris, who is currently contracted with McLaren until the end of the 2025 season, has shown immense talent and star power. Croft suggests that if Verstappen were to retire early, Red Bull would seek a “big star” like Norris to be alongside Verstappen for a couple of years before becoming their main driver for the future. Norris himself has expressed ambition and a desire to win races and titles with McLaren, but being linked with a move to the top team is seen as a compliment.

What do you think about Max Verstappen’s revelation?

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