Mercedes board are turning on top executive who opposes Max Verstappen signing

Follow us on Google Discover

Mercedes chairman Ola Kallenius is coming ‘under a lot of pressure’, and it could have ramifications for the team’s interest in Max Verstappen.

Toto Wolff has openly courted Verstappen in recent years, but lately, he has played down the possibility of the signing. He seems committed to the current line-up of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

Kallenius’ opposition to signing Verstappen may have played a part. Recent reports suggest that, with two years of his term remaining, he doesn’t want to commit to a prolonged, nine-figure deal for the Red Bull driver.

Kallenius also fears Verstappen will be bigger than the team he joins, having observed his heliocentric position within Red Bull.

Mercedes CEO is now at risk, but what will it mean for Max Verstappen pursuit?

According to F1 Insider’s Ralf Bach, Kallenius is an ‘absolute’ fan of Kimi Antonelli and holds him up to team staff as a model employee. The team already have a ready-made superstar in the 19-year-old, and signing Verstappen, infamous for derailing his teammates’ careers, could harm his development.

However, Bach has learned that Kallenius is under pressure from above and below. Employees are unhappy with his policies, and some members of the board are questioning whether he has a long-term plan.

Kallenius recently attended the British Grand Prix but apparently cancelled a media commitment because he didn’t want to address the rumours.

“Mercedes are dealing with a different problem right now, anyway,” Bach said. “Kallenius is under a lot of pressure from the employees. There were even protests three weeks ago outside the Mercedes Museum and the factory.

Here’s how the F1 championship looks at the summer break. Predict the top five at the end of the season 👇

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

“There’s no consistency. Now he also wants to get rid of working from home again so that everyone goes into the office. I mean, there’s just no sign that he has any kind of plan, and people are slowly realising that – including the supervisory board – which means he’s under pressure.

“He’d rather go to Silverstone for Formula 1 than take care of his duties, his core business. And as I’ve heard, he also cancelled a Sky interview during his trip to Silverstone because he’s under so much pressure.

“He’s an absolute Antonelli fan. He also goes out and makes Mercedes videos for the employees, using Antonelli as an example of how one should be. As long as he’s there, Verstappen has no place.”

If there is a change at the highest level, it is bound to have ramifications for the F1 team. Mercedes-Benz own a third of the operation.

Reports over the weekend suggest Red Bull have offered Verstappen a one-year extension to 2029, but he would have to sacrifice the performance-based exit clause that allows him to leave this year.