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Formula 1: Max Verstappen calls Mercedes rumors ‘funny’

By Asher Fair

SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 11: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing looks on during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 11, 2019 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 11: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing looks on during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 11, 2019 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /
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Max Verstappen has called the rumors about Toto Wolff contacting him to drive for Mercedes in the 2020 Formula 1 season “funny”.

Earlier this week, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing manager Helmut Marko stated that Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport team principal and CEO Toto Wolff has contacted Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen and his father, former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen, on several occasions over the last several months about Max potentially driving for the team in the 2020 Formula 1 season.

Marko revealed that while Verstappen signed a contract extension in October of 2017 to continue driving for the Milton Keynes-based team through the 2020 season, this contract extension contains a performance clause that would allow the 21-year-old Dutchman to seek other options if the team do not give him a car capable of winning this year’s championship.

This is particularly notable due to the fact that Red Bull Racing ended their 12-year partnership with Renault ahead of the 2019 season and switched their engine manufacturer from Renault to Honda in the hopes of closing the performance and reliability gaps to rivals Mercedes and Scuderia Ferrari.

However, Verstappen has now stated that Wolff never calls him and that he does not even have his number, referring to these rumors as “funny”. That said, he did not disclose any information about his contract, and he did state that Wolff and his father have talked.

Here is what Verstappen had to say about the this rumor, according to GP Fans.

"“I was surprised when I read that because first of all I never speak to Toto. He never calls me. He doesn’t even have my number. So I found it funny. I cannot talk about my contract. I never talk about the contract, I think it’s quite normal…[Toto] and [Jos] do talk sometimes but it’s mainly about babies and go-karting.”"

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Verstappen’s statement comes shortly after his father claimed that Marko’s claim about Wolff contacting his son was “nonsense”, although he also hinted that what Marko stated about the performance clause in his son’s contract is true, meaning his son could still very well end up driving for the Silver Arrows next year.

Through the first two races of the 21-race 2019 season, Verstappen trails only Mercedes teammates Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton in third place in the driver standings. He finished the season opener, the Australian Grand Prix, in third before finishing the season’s second race, the Bahrain Grand Prix, in fourth.

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When the 2020 Formula 1 driver lineup is officially set, which likely won’t be for several more months, for which team will Max Verstappen be slated to drive? Will he be set to return to Red Bull Racing for what would be his fifth season driving for the team, or will he be set to switch to Mercedes for what would be his first season driving for the Brackley-based team?

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