Formula 1: Max Verstappen rumored to join Mercedes for 2020

By Asher Fair | Apr 9, 2019

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - MARCH 28: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing talks to the media in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 28, 2019 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /

Max Verstappen has been rumored to make a shocking switch from Red Bull Racing to Mercedes for the 2020 Formula 1 season.

Before the 2017 Formula 1 season ended in October of 2017, Max Verstappen signed a contract extension to continue driving for Red Bull Racing, the team for which he had driven since the 21-race 2016 season’s fifth race, through the 2020 season.

However, shocking rumors have now emerged that the 21-year-old Dutchman may make the switch to Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport and that he may do so ahead of the 2020 season.

Last July, Lewis Hamilton signed a contract extension to continue driving for the Silver Arrows through the 2020 season while Valtteri Bottas signed a contract extension to continue driving for the Brackley-based team through the 2019 season, although this contract extension contains some form of an additional one-year option.

Red Bull Racing manager Helmut Marko confirmed that Verstappen and his father, former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen, have been contacted on numerous occasions by Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff over the last several months.

Here is what Marko had to say about the matter, according to Wheels24.

"“Toto Wolff calls him and his father repeatedly and has done for months.”"

Marko also stated that Verstappen has a performance clause in his contract, meaning that while he has signed with Red Bull Racing through the 2020 season, there is no guarantee that he will drive for the team next year if they do not provide him with a car that is capable of competing for this year’s championship.

Here is what Marko had to say in this regard, according to GP Fans.

"“There is certainly a performance clause in Max’s contract…I am relaxed about it. He feels good with us and if we give him world championship material, I will not worry that he will stay.”"

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Rumored replacement candidates for Bottas if Mercedes do not retain him for the 2020 season already include former Sahara Force India/Racing Point driver Esteban Ocon, who is now the Mercedes reserve driver, and Mercedes junior driver George Russell, who is in his first season competing in Formula 1 and drives for ROKiT Williams Racing, so the addition of Verstappen to this list should make for an interesting silly season.

Verstappen has competed in 83 Formula 1 races over the course of his career, and he has earned five victories. He had earned each of these five victories at an age when no other drivers in Formula 1 history had ever even earned one victory, as he was 21 years and 28 days old when he earned his fifth career victory.

Meanwhile, the second youngest race winner in Formula 1 history, Sebastian Vettel, earned his first career victory at the age of 21 years and 73 days old when he won the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.

Verstappen has earned an additional 18 podium finishes, including nine second place finishes and nine third place finishes, to go along with his five career victories. He has led 346 of the 4,263 laps that he has completed, and he has recorded an average starting position of 7.5 and an average finishing position of 8.2. He recorded a career-high fourth place finish in last year’s driver standings.

Through the first two races of the 2019 season, Verstappen has earned a third place finish and a fourth place finish, as he finished the season opener, the Australian Grand Prix, in third before finishing the season’s second race, the Bahrain Grand Prix, in fourth. He currently sits in third in the driver standings behind Bottas and Hamilton in first and second, respectively.

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Will Max Verstappen end up leaving Red Bull Racing after the 2019 Formula 1 season reaches its conclusion so that he can drive for Mercedes beginning in the 2020 season, or will this rumor remain a rumor and not amount to anything more than that? With just two of the 2019 season’s 21 scheduled races having been completed and silly season having yet to hit in full force, only time will tell.

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