P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has decided to remain loyal to Red Bull, but how close did he actually come to leaving the outfit to join Mercedes?
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff clarified that there were no concrete plans to sign Max Verstappen from Red Bull as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton. Despite ongoing communication between Verstappen and Mercedes, no formal agreement was ever reached. Speculation of Verstappen leaving Red Bull arose due to internal issues within the team, including a public dispute involving Verstappen’s father and team principal Christian Horner. Despite challenges faced by Red Bull both on and off the track, Verstappen still secured the drivers’ title in 2024. Ultimately, Verstappen expressed his decision to remain with Red Bull, leading Mercedes to appoint Kimi Antonelli as their driver for the future.
