“I’m sure he’s looking at the situation with interest”- Max Verstappen is fancying his chances to grab a spot in Mercedes for 2021.
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton are still negotiating a contract extension, but the talks are not reaching a conclusion due to multiple possible reasons, and it might benefit Max Verstappen.
According to Scott Mitchell from the Race.com, the Dutch race driver is probably eyeing on earning a seat in Mercedes amidst the above mentioned deadlock.
“He’s one of the other key drivers defining the driver market,” says Mitchell. “I’m sure he’s looking at the situation with interest. And when you’re in the situation Mercedes is in and you’re not sure if Hamilton wants to commit, Verstappen is the driver you want onboard at the earliest opportunity.”
Verstappen and his other aides are confident that the Dutchman may seal his maiden Drivers’ world championship if given the right car, as he is allegedly the best driver on the grid.
Not too soon, George Russell in contention
The only barrier to Verstappen’s aim to grab a seat for Mercedes is the prospect Toto Wolff sees in George Russell, the Briton has been backed by the Austrian since last two years, and in return, he has done a fairly good job.
But in this contest, Verstappen has an advantage, there is not a considerable age gap between the two, and as it stands, Verstappen is a multifold level better driver than him.
Therefore, this can ruin Russell’s aspirations to be a Mercedes driver if Hamilton decides to leave the team this season. Mercedes wouldn’t fancy having another Nico Rosberg-Lewis Hamilton conflict.
Both drivers are equal in calibre, and amidst intense competition, they may ruin their objectives. Therefore, it is either Verstappen or Russell, and everybody knows, if the situation arises, with whom Mercedes will go.
The only thing over here that can side with Russell is the pay gap, and even in it, Verstappen is not as expensive as Hamilton and can draw in immense sponsorship.
