Is Max Verstappen considering a move to Mercedes or not? While there has been no official response to this question from either the Verstappen camp or the Silver Arrows, Jenson Button warns that a transition to Mercedes could potentially be detrimental for the four-time world champion. The British former Formula 1 driver also reveals who, in his opinion, Verstappen should replace among the two current Mercedes drivers.
Ever since George Russell let slip in Austria that Mercedes is indeed in talks with Max Verstappen, the rumor mill has been in overdrive. Is the four-time world champion seriously considering a move to the Silver Arrows or not? Jenson Button, at least, does not believe that the grass is much greener at Mercedes for the Red Bull driver.
“It’s a tough one for Max, because he’s in a position where he’s doing so well at Red Bull. They’ve given him so much over the years,” the Brit tells The Chris Moyles Show. “They’ve designed this car around him and he’s extremely good in it. No one can match him in that car. His teammates are so far behind him. I mean, he qualifies third or fourth and they qualify eighteenth.”
According to the former Brawn driver, there’s no guarantee that Lewis Hamilton will experience the same success with the Silver Arrows. “If he goes to Mercedes, it’s a whole different ball game. The car isn’t designed around him. So, will it work for him? I don’t know,” concludes Button.
Russell and Verstappen?
If Verstappen does make the move to Mercedes, the British driver knows which of the two current drivers – George Russell or Andrea Kimi Antonelli – he would sideline. “George is currently performing at the top of his game. If you look at what he’s done against Lewis Hamilton over the past few years, he’s World Championship material. So to replace him with Max seems like a strange move.”
“I know they have the young Kimi Antonelli, who is eighteen and could be a future star. But we don’t know that yet. So for me, George and Max would be a better line-up. I’d love to see it!”, Button concludes.
