F1 Rumor: Helmut Marko can Trigger Max Verstappen’s Move to Mercedes; Exit Clause Revealed

Right before the season started, Lewis Hamilton‘s switch from Mercedes was announced, and soon after the first race, Max Verstappen was rumored to take his seat in 2025. After the Briton leaves the team for Ferrari, Mercedes will have an empty seat. The state of Red Bull racing is currently unstable with team principal Christian Horner in the middle of controversies and this looks like a time when Verstappen is considering an exit.

But you may be wondering, how can the 3-time world champion leave Red Bull if his contract is till 2028? Recently, an exit clause in the driver’s contract surfaced, with Helmut Marko being the center of it.

Helmut Marko to aid Max Verstappen’s move to Mercedes?

Netizens are all excited to hear about Max Verstappen‘s possible move to the Silver Arrows, but how is it possible with a contract till 2028? This is because of an exit clause that states Max Verstappen can leave the team in case Helmut Marko leaves the team.

Helmut Marko told F1-Insider that “As far as I’m concerned, I won’t get in Max’s way.” This means that if Max Verstappen decides to move to Mercedes, Marko would also leave his role at Red Bull to help the driver achieve his goals. Red Bull is having some serious issues with Christian Horner trying to gain more power in the team. This has upset not only Max Verstappen but also his father who is now found talking to Toto Wolff.

Read More – F1 Rumor: Muhammed Bin Sulayem Asked Max Verstappen to Turn Back on Father and Publicly Support Christian Horner

Currently, there are no claims of discussions of bringing the 26-year-old world champion to the Brackley-based team. This might change soon as the season progresses and Max Verstappen gauges the team according to Horner’s management. But with Jos Verstappen unhappy with the team principal, there is a chance that his son will make the transfer.

Will this mean that Mercedes will be competing for the top?

The short, sweet, and honest answer to that is yes. But that is no different compared to what Mercedes has always been doing. The team currently has Lewis Hamilton, the modern-day legend with 7 world championship titles, and it would only be fair to replace him with someone of that caliber.

According to Toto Wolff, “Max is driving in another galaxy.” With his performance after the first race, the difference between him and the rest of the grid became clear. Even Hamilton could not come close to Verstappen. In fact, the Briton came in at a disappointing P7. Max Verstappen is currently in his prime and has won 19 over 22 races in the previous season. However, a new challenge and the chance to try bringing back Mercedes’ glory days offer a tantalizing prospect for the Dutchman.

That being said, what do you think this means for Mercedes? Will having Verstappen be beneficial to them? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.