With Lewis Hamilton departing Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025, it's hardly surprising that rumors are circulating about who might fill his seat at Mercedes. It all began with the potential candidacy of Fernando Alonso, Mercedes' junior driver, Kimi Antonelli, and even mentioned Sebastian Vettel.
Amidst the swirling speculations, one particular rumor has captivated the F1 community—the prospect of Mercedes setting their sights on Max Verstappen. Recently, Red Bull concluded its investigation of Christian Horner, declaring him innocent. However, shortly after Red Bull's announcement, an anonymous source leaked supposed messages from Horner to an F1 journalist and all Team Principals. While these messages purportedly suggest Horner may not be as innocent as Red Bull claims, concrete proof of their authenticity is still lacking.
This development has stirred tension within Red Bull Racing, including a strained relationship between Horner and Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen's father. Allegedly, Jos is dissatisfied with Horner and the potential controversies he might be entangled with. Consequently, Jos has issued an ultimatum to Red Bull Racing—either terminate Horner or risk Max leaving the team.
While this ultimatum likely serves as a strong signal of Jos's desire to see Horner gone, and not necessarily an earnest intention for Max to leave Red Bull, but the mere mention of Max leaving has sparked wild rumors. One such rumor suggests Mercedes could be interested in Max if he were to enter the driver market. Any team would fight for the opportunity to sign Max, but Max would only go to a top team and given Ferrari's full roster, Mercedes stands out as the primary contender.
While everything remains speculative at this point, it has undeniably heightened the excitement of an already absurdly entertaining silly season. The unfolding events promise an intriguing spectacle, and I eagerly anticipate seeing how it all unfolds.
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