Horner & Wolff fight over Verstappen. From a sporting perspective, the Formula One season is almost over with the World Championship on the horizon: Away from the track, however, there is intense speculation as to where the current Formula 1 dominator Max Verstappen will drive next year, with the Dutch driver recently linked with Mercedes due to the turmoil at Red Bull Racing.
The Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff has even been flirting with the Dutchman, which has now led to a public row with Christian Horner, Wolff’s counterpart at Red Bull.
Mercedes continues to struggle
As the 2024 Formula One season progresses, Mercedes’ struggles are becoming increasingly apparent, making Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025 look like another potentially strategic masterstroke of luck, planned timing or both (McLaren to Mercedes 2014 case and point).
Although it is still early in the season, with five races to go, Mercedes’ lacklustre performance is under the microscope. Toto Wolff’s familiar reassurances that there’s time to improve are beginning to sound unconvincing with 20% of the races already in the books.
Hamilton’s brief highlight came in the wet sprint qualifying in China, where he briefly claimed pole position before being well outpaced by Lando Norris. This fleeting success was a stark reminder of his abilities, which are currently being stifled by his underperforming W15.
The real problems were evident in the Grand Prix itself, where Hamilton struggled with a car that lagged behind not only the leaders, but also the midfielders. His inability to get out of Q1 in qualifying is a stark reminder of the challenges he faces at Mercedes. Wolff’s admission that the team’s performance was “not good enough” and his vague hopes of an imminent upgrade for the Miami race underline the urgent need for improvement.
Mercedes and Hamilton at loggerheads
Hamilton’s situation is a clear indicator of a team and driver at a crossroads. With significant changes being experimented with almost in desperation, the seven-time world champion appears to be fighting a losing battle. This is compounded by internal changes within the team, such as the departure of key technical personnel in recent years, suggesting a possible decline in the team’s innovative edge.
Damon Hill’s recent criticism of the Mercedes aero team adds another layer of concern. The team’s historical reliance on superior power units over aerodynamic efficiency may no longer suffice under the current regulations. This suggests that even the retention of a top technical leader such as James Allison may not immediately resolve the deeper issues at play.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari
Against this backdrop, Hamilton’s potential move to Ferrari could be more than just a change of scenery. It could be a rejuvenation of his career, offering him the chance to compete at the highest level again with a team that could make better use of his talents. Ferrari’s recent form and commitment to progress make them an attractive option for Hamilton, who clearly still has the drive to compete for championships.
As Mercedes grapple with internal challenges and the pressure to regain top form, Hamilton’s departure could be seen not just as a loss, but as a missed opportunity to fully capitalise on one of the sport’s greatest talents. The move to Ferrari could therefore be a pivotal moment in Hamilton’s career, potentially reigniting his legacy in a new chapter that promises renewed competitiveness and excitement.
Marko confirms Vettel F1 return
Hamilton leaves open a door
With Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes at the end of the season to join Ferrari, a seemingly coveted F1 cockpit is up for grabs. Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff is keen to fill it with the best of the best and has been heavily courting Max Verstappen in recent weeks, knowing full well that his current team are dominating the competition at the moment.
The case to move to Mercedes for a driver such as Max Verstappen is perhaps looking more and more questionable when considering the current issues the German manufacturing giant is suffering in F1.
But for Wolff, that’s not all that should count for Verstappen.
“If I were Max, I would stay at Red Bull in 2025. But I’m not Max,” said Wolff in a media round on the sidelines of the Chinese Grand Prix.
“Yes, the Red Bull is the fastest car. For simple personalities, that would probably be a reason to stay there. But for personalities with a bit more depth, there are other factors at play. And I think Max has that depth,” said Wolff, who had warm words for the Dutchman, without specifically mentioning those “other factors”.
Meanwhile, there is speculation that the Mercedes boss was alluding to the internal power struggle at Red Bull Racing and the unrest surrounding team boss Christian Horner. The question of whether the Austrian outfit will be able to compete with their own engine when the new regulations come into force in 2026 could also be included.
Either way: Red Bull’s Horner didn’t take kindly to Wolff’s comments about Verstappen. “Why on earth would you leave the team?” insisted Horner after the Chinese Grand Prix and hit back.
Former team mate slams Hamilton in China
Horner hits back
Mercedes have even fallen behind their own customer teams McLaren and Aston Martin. The 50-year-old countered that Wolff should spend his time focusing on his team rather than the driver market, adding: “I can assure you that there is no uncertainty about where Max Verstappen will be driving next year.
Instead, Horner turned the tables…
“Have you heard that George Russell’s contract expires at the end of 2025? Maybe he doesn’t necessarily want to stay for 2026,” said the Briton in response to a question that was actually aimed at finding out if Mercedes could offer a better engine package from 2026.
However, Horner added confidently in response to the question: “If I had to bet on one team getting the chassis, I think the numbers are in our favour.
“Yes, of course, it’s a brave thing we’ve started there, and it’s a brave thing. But Red Bull wouldn’t have won 117 races without courageous decisions and we believe that courage will be rewarded.”
READ MORE: F1 CEO casts doubt over future of Chinese GP
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Formula One returned to China for the first time in half a decade this weekend meeting a number of surprises along the way. The first was the expected track resurfacing had not in fact taken place but a sealer had been ‘painted’ on to prevent further deterioration.
The result was the cars were 3-4 seconds a lap slower than when last here in 2019 but the reduced grip didn’t see tyre wear go to silly proportions. The newly confirmed contract extension for Fernando Alonso played out well for him and Aston Martin, as the Spanish maestro hauled his car into…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
