Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has claimed that Mercedes offered Max Verstappen a contract “so bad financially” that it was dismissed out of hand, as speculation over the Dutchman’s future continues.
Verstappen has been at the centre of further rumours as Red Bull continues to struggle to get to grips with the sport’s new regulations, despite topping the engine charts after key FIA findings last week.
It has left the four-time World Champion with a set of results rather modest compared to what he is used to – just one podium so far, a third place coming in Canada.
This time last year, rumours about a potential switch to Mercedes ramped up, which rumbled on the entire summer, resulting in the 28-year-old deciding to stay with the Milton Keynes-based squad.
Those rumours have surfaced once again, but Schumacher, speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, has made the claim that the Silver Arrows has made an apparently derisorty offer.
“At Mercedes, you hear that Wolff has made him an offer behind the scenes,” he said. “But that offer was apparently so bad financially that it’s not an option anyway.
“That’s apparently what’s going on behind the scenes right now.
“I think that’s intentional, because again, I’ve said it before, why would Toto Wolff, if everything goes as planned, get an expensive Max Verstappen alongside Kimi Antonelli, the future superstar?”
Max Verstappen keeping his powder dry with ‘wait and see’ attitude
Verstappen has been open about his willingness to quit F1 in recent years, but has appeared placated by the sport’s shift towards more combustion power, beginning next year.
But his lack of appetite for racing for anything other than wins will ensure he will be keeping his options open, particularly if he does not feel Red Bull has the long-term capabilities to provide him that.
Schumacher claimed that the team is “desperate” for Verstappen to “sign a contract until 2032,” but added: “Max apparently refused and said, ‘Well, I don’t need that right now; I’m on contract until 2028 anyway, so I’d rather wait and see.'”
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