Formula 1: Max Verstappen heats up Ferrari switch rumor for 2021

Max Verstappen made an interesting claim about Charles Leclerc that has opened up the possibility of a potential pairing at Ferrari for the 2021 Formula 1 season.

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc have become two of the future/present faces of Formula 1.  The potential that the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver and the Scuderia Ferrari driver have shown over the years has begun to shine through via Grand Prix victories on a fairly regular basis.

The 21-year-old Dutchman has already secured seven career victories, including two through the first 14 races of the 21-race 2019 season, while the 21-year-old Monegasque secured the first two victories of his career earlier this month in back-to-back races.

Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull Racing through the 2020 season after it was confirmed that he would not be able to trigger a performance exit clause in his contract to leave the team after the 2019 season to join Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport. He signed his current three-year deal in October of 2017.

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But for the 2021 season, it will likely either be a new deal with the Milton Keynes-based team or a deal with another top-tier team, likely Mercedes or Ferrari, for Verstappen.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton has previously stated that he would have no problem with Verstappen as his teammate, and both he and teammate Valtteri Bottas are under contract with the Silver Arrows through the 2020 season. With Hamilton likely to return for the 2021 season as he pursues the all-time championships record, Verstappen could very well end up as his teammate after all.

But now Verstappen has stated the same thing that Hamilton stated about him about Leclerc, opening up the possibility that perhaps he will drive for Ferrari in the 2021 season.

Here is what Verstappen had to say about the matter, according to Grand PX News.

"“Charles and I could get along at the same team. We both want to win, but we respect each other. I won’t deny that there could be conflicts, but it wouldn’t be like [Lewis] Hamilton and [Nico] Rosberg at Mercedes.”"

Could this pairing actually happen?

Leclerc is believed to be under contract with Ferrari through the 2022 season, as the deal he signed prior to the 2019 season to replace Kimi Raikkonen was reportedly at least a four-year deal.

But teammate Sebastian Vettel is only under contract through the 2020 season, and given the fact that he has made crucial mistake after crucial mistake in recent seasons as well as the fact that he hasn’t won a race in more than one year, it would not be surprising to see Ferrari look elsewhere.

Right now, there really isn’t a clear top replacement candidate for the 32-year-old German if this is the route that they take.

With Verstappen as a free agent, however, that’s a whole different story.

Verstappen has stated on multiple occasions that his goal for Red Bull Racing is to be in contention to win the 2020 championship. The 2019 season is their first season using Honda engines after ending their 12-year partnership with Renault, so there has undoubtedly been somewhat of a learning curve even though they have demonstrated marked improvement in what has been a season of resurgence for the Japanese manufacturer.

If Red Bull Racing continue running like they’ve been, however, that likely won’t be enough to retain the rising superstar, not even for another year — not with a Ferrari seat open, at least, and not with that seat being alongside a driver who Verstappen has now publicly claimed that he would get along with.

Could Max Verstappen end up at Mercedes after all for the 2021 Formula 1 season if he leaves Red Bull Racing? Absolutely. But the team opted to bring Valtteri Bottas back for the 2019 season even with junior driver Esteban Ocon available, so it seems clear that as long as Lewis Hamilton is there, they don’t want to disrupt the harmony between their two drivers.

A full lineup at Mercedes, a non-championship-level Red Bull Racing and an open seat at Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc could very well result in Verstappen driving for the Prancing Horse in 2021.