Senior Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has commented on the possibility of newly crowned F1 champion Max Verstappen joining Mercedes.
The Dutchman won the F1 Drivers’ Championship after a season-long battle with Sir Lewis Hamilton, with him ultimately securing the title after passing the Briton on the last lap of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix following a highly controversial decision by Michael Masi to let only a handful of cars un-lap themselves.
Verstappen and Hamilton clashed throughout the 22-race season, including a crash at Monza which put both of them out of the race and a high-speed coming together at Silverstone which put the Red Bull driver in the wall, while Hamilton was handed a 10-second penalty but nevertheless won the race.
Asked about the possibility of Verstappen racing for Mercedes in Formula 1, Dr Marko said “there is no such danger” following the Silver Arrows celebrating Hamilton’s victory in Silverstone while the 24-year-old was in hospital.
“There is no such danger. Too much was destroyed in Silverstone,” Marko said.
Verstappen was approached by Mercedes prior to him joining the F1 grid, but he opted to remain loyal to the Red Bull Junior Team.
READ: Verstappen says Hamilton should ‘understand this is racing’
In the same interview, Dr Marko described Verstappen as the “fastest” and “most aggressive” driver Red Bull have ever had.
“[He is] the fastest, most consistent and most aggressive driver we’ve ever had.
“These two drivers are comparable in terms of their mentality, their personality and their aggressiveness,” Dr Marko added, drawing parallels between Verstappen and the late Ayrton Senna, who won three F1 titles.
“We are lucky to have someone like that.”
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