Max Verstappen “quite close” to signing a deal with Mercedes to replace Lewis Hamilton in 2025, according to former F1 driver 

Any team would be lucky to have Max Verstappen. The reigning triple world champion has hardly put a foot wrong since winning his first championship in Abu Dhabi in 2021. Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has now claimed that Max Verstappen is very close to replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year.

The current debacle at Red Bull Racing seems to have taken its toll on the Dutchman. Christian Horner and Max’s father, Jos’ sour relationship has not helped Red Bull’s case either.

In that context, 3x F1 race winner Johnny Herbert told The Sun:

"It doesn't help the situation for Red Bull who have the best driver in the world at the present time. And they're very close to pushing Max Verstappen out of the team. I've heard they are getting quite close with the deal with Mercedes.”

He added:

"It's the impact, the possible destroying of the team and the success they have had.”

The British national also stated that Red Bull “would be stupid” to let Max Verstappen walk away amid all the chaos surrounding the energy drink company.

Helmut Marko recently denied reports that he and Max Verstappen were moving to Mercedes

Red Bull taskmaster Helmut Marko recently cleared the air about Max Verstappen and his future.

The Red Bull team has been under the spotlight since the beginning of the season. After Christian Horner’s investigation, Helmut Marko also reportedly found himself investigated. Verstappen then came out in support of Helmut Marko, stating that his future relied largely on the Austrian continuing at Red Bull.

Soon after, the senior Red Bull figure told Soymotor that the duo were not moving to Mercedes “at the moment."

Marko said:

"It's a long time... I was very grateful for Max's loyalty. He impressed me. At the moment we are not going to go to Mercedes together."

Amid all the media coverage surrounding the team, Verstappen would be focussing on the upcoming Australian Grand Prix.

The Dutch Lion has won successive races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia this season. If Verstappen manages to win the race in Melbourne, he will tie the record for most consecutive F1 race wins ever. The other person with the record? That would be Verstappen himself; he won 10 times last year between Miami to Monza.