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Formula 1: Ranking the chances of the 4 primary Mercedes candidates for 2020

By Asher Fair

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 17: Race winner Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes GP and third placed Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrate on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 17, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 17: Race winner Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes GP and third placed Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrate on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 17, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 31: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15 (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 31: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15 (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, Honda. MAX VERSTAPPEN. #2. . No. 33

Following a series of admissions by Red Bull Racing manager Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen has suddenly emerged as a shock candidate to drive for Mercedes in the 2020 season despite the fact that he signed a contract to continue driving for the Milton Keynes-based team through the 2020 season in October of 2017.

A key reason for this is the fact that Verstappen, as Marko admitted, is reportedly allowed to leave Red Bull Racing due to a performance clause in this contract, meaning that if the team do not give him a car that is capable of competing for the 2019 season championship, the rising star who many fans see as a future Formula 1 champion is free to pursue other options.

He wouldn’t have to look far in that pursuit.

With Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff reportedly already having contacted the 21-year-old Dutchman and his father, former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen, on multiple occasions about driving for the Silver Arrows in the 2020 season, expect him to be the go-to driver for the Brackley-based team if he leaves Red Bull Racing after the 2019 season ends and if Mercedes do not re-sign Bottas for next year.

Jos has denied that Wolff has reached out to his son, but he has admitted that Wolff has called him from time to time. He also hinted that what Marko stated about the performance clause in his son’s contract is true.

Even if this scenario plays out, however, the one main obstacle for the always aggressive Verstappen may be Lewis Hamilton’s influence on Mercedes’ decision — no further comment needed.

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