Mercedes may need already made contact with Max Verstappen of their seek for a Lewis Hamilton alternative, says Helmut Marko.
Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari in 2025 means Mercedes are already busily contemplating methods to exchange the seven-time F1 champion.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris are newly-contracted to their present groups whereas Verstappen is tied down long-term at Purple Bull.
However Purple Bull’s Marko was requested if Mercedes would possibly attempt to contact Verstappen.
“I’d be shocked in the event that they hadn’t,” he replied to Krone Zeitung.
“However Max is a really loyal driver.”
Hamilton will spend one last yr at Mercedes, the workforce which has helped him obtain six of his seven championships.
Marko was requested what he expects from Hamilton this yr, after a win-less two seasons.
“Lewis is an distinctive driver,” he replied.
“If they provide him a automobile that’s able to successful [races] or perhaps a World Championship, they should contain him till the tip – and so simply leap over their shadow.”
Toto Wolff has insisted that Mercedes don’t have any considerations over Hamilton’s “integrity” in his last yr earlier than shifting to a direct rival.
Purple Bull, in the meantime, stay F1’s workforce to beat after only one grand prix in 2024.
Verstappen cruised to victory in Saturday’s Bahrain Grand Prix, with Sergio Perez second.
Final yr they gained all-but-one grands prix – can they do it once more?
“There are additionally route-specific parameters,” Marko insisted.
“If you aren’t getting pole in Monaco or Singapore, it will likely be troublesome to win.
“That is not our aim, in fact we need to get near this dream end result, however the competitors has gotten nearer.
“Our aim is the championship.”
The RB20 shocked a lot of the F1 paddock when, regardless of the dominance of final yr’s automobile, it was revealed with a courageous new idea.
“With all our know-how, we had been in a position to develop an idea that was extra revolutionary than evolutionary,” Marko mentioned.
“So we might go to extremes with out risking it being a flop.
“As well as, the phrase conservative merely doesn’t exist within the minds of our technicians round Pierre Wache and Adrian Newey – that can also be a part of Purple Bull’s DNA.
“Sure, we shocked everybody with this automobile, one take a look at the slim aspect pods is sufficient.
“You may also see that your entire area, let’s name it, was primarily based on our automobile. So our bundle matches.”
