Domino effect
In recent weeks the one seen in Red Bull was only one apparent trucewhich seemed to reveal itself in all its weakness with yesterday’s news of the decision – in fact not strongly denied – to Adrian Newey to leave the team. A farewell that could start a sensational domino effect, in which several key figures of the world champion team are in turn negotiating their exit from the team, nauseated by the management of the Horner case.
Verstappen-Mercedes, we get to the heart of things
The Germans of F1-Insider they said that between the Miami race and the following one in Imola, the Verstappen clan will meet Mercedes. A decidedly important piece of news, given that the meeting is expected to feature the great leaders of the Silver Arrows in F1, i.e. Ola Kallenius – Chairman of the Mercedes Board of Directors -, Toto Wolff and Sir James Ratcliffe of Ineos, each owning 33% of the team.
In addition to Max Verstappen, his manager Raymond Vermeulen and his father Jos will also sit at the table.
As is known, Verstappen has an exit clause from the Red Bull contract (which will end in 2028) linked to Helmut Marko’s stay in the team, willing to step aside to allow his protégé to separate from Christian Horner.
The offer
The German newspaper also explained that Verstappen intends to ensure that Mercedes can put a more competitive car on the track than the one seen in this first part of the championship. The Dutchman could therefore ask for the arrival of some high-level technicians from Red Bulla detail that would explain Mercedes’ pressure on Pierre Waché, technical director of the Anglo-Austrians, which has been ongoing for some time now.
The requests, however, do not seem to scare the Kallenius-Wolff-Ratcliffe triad, ready to put negotiations on the table the exorbitant figure of 150 million per year between fixed part and bonus and a long-term contract that would make Verstappen a brand ambassador even at the end of his career. But not only that: Mercedes is really willing to welcome him into the team – sensationally – too Helmut Marko just to convince the three-time world champion.
