Max Verstappen or Charles Leclerc? Toto Wolff defines ideal driver for Mercedes
07/04/2024 06:35 PM
Max Verstappen or Charles Leclerc, Toto Wolff clarifies the future of Mercedes in F1. The Austrian team principal, a few days before the Silverstone Grand Prix, admits that it will still take some time to define Lewis Hamilton’s replacement for 2025. The options have narrowed, allowing Brackley to focus on a handful of well-selected drivers. Yet “anything can still happen.”
The big market move that kicked off 2024, the arrival of Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, continues to have repercussions in the paddock. With a highly coveted seat still vacant, it’s fair to wonder who will be chosen to replace the English champion. From Carlos Sainz to Andrea Kimi Antonelli, but also Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso, many names are linked to Brackley.
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Toto Wolff was asked to choose a hypothetical candidate between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, two drivers he had previously confessed to appreciating: “It’s an unfair question because I would never want to judge other teams’ drivers too much. They are both very good, and any team would be happy to have either one.” – he explained.
“Charles Leclerc is a Ferrari driver until 2028,” continues the Austrian. “With Verstappen… it’s not clear. We keep our options open. We are not waiting for him, we never have, our goal is to have a faster car. I think Lewis and George will be competitive, as will anyone driving for us next year, whether it’s Kimi Antonelli, Max Verstappen, or anyone else.” – the Mercedes team principal pointed out.
The Dutchman has repeatedly emphasized that his future will still be with Red Bull. However, recent tensions between Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner, which are straining the atmosphere in Milton Keynes, and the narrowing performance gap between the RB20 and its rivals, could drive him away from the Austrian team: “The most likely scenario is that he stays with Red Bull,” admits Toto Wolff, “but things can change.”
Source: f1ingenerale
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