Mercedes have no hope for possible Lewis Hamilton replacement as friction ‘runs deep’

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Helmut Marko thinks Mercedes have no hope for signing Max Verstappen to replace Lewis Hamilton in 2025 as the friction with the Red Bull driver from 2021 ‘runs deep’.

The Silver Arrows are searching for a new stablemate for George Russell after Hamilton used a release clause to sign for Ferrari. He only agreed a new contract in Brackley last August but saw enough after two successive winless seasons to seal a switch to Maranello for next year.

Hamilton will obtain the drive Carlos Sainz will occupy for a fourth and final year this season beside Charles Leclerc. It brings the curtain down on the most successful driver-team duo in Formula 1’s history. The 39-year-old has won six titles, 82 races and 78 poles at Mercedes.

Helmut Marko thinks Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ friction from 2021 still ‘runs deep’

Mercedes have several options to choose from to replace Hamilton in 2025 and OE24 put it to Red Bull motorsport advisor Marko that team principal Toto Wolff wants to make a move palatable for Verstappen. But Marko feels Wolff has zero chance for signing the 26-year-old.

“That’s actually his job as team boss, that he does everything he can to get the best drivers,” Marko explained. “No, he has a good memory and too much has happened in the past. I just remember Silverstone or the turmoil at the finale in Abu Dhabi. This runs deep.”

Mercedes would have to pull some considerable strings to snare Verstappen away from Red Bull to replace Hamilton in 2025. The three-time F1 champion with the Milton Keynes team is under contract through 2028. He also just won 19 of the 22 Grand Prix in the 2023 season.

The friction that Marko claims still ‘runs deep’ between Verstappen and Mercedes relates to Hamilton and the Red Bull driver’s fierce fight for the 2021 Formula 1 drivers’ championship. It would ultimately sway in the Dutchman’s favour in extremely controversial circumstances.

Max Verstappen controversially won a Formula 1 title Lewis Hamilton was set to seal

Verstappen was a genuine title threat for the first time in his F1 career in 2021 and used the RB16B’s strengths to bully Hamilton in the early rounds. He forced the Mercedes star to take avoiding action to avoid them crashing at the starts of the Emilia Romagna and Spanish GPs.

Hamilton ultimately had enough of Verstappen’s aggressive antics and fought back come his home British GP. The Stevenage-born star and Hasselt, Belgium native tussled all the way to Copse before a slight hint of oversteer sent Hamilton, pinched on the kerb, into Verstappen.

The contact span Verstappen off at the fastest corner on the circuit and into the barriers. He and Red Bull could not get over the incident and used it to fuel their title charge. Verstappen would also cause a collision with Hamilton at that year’s Italian GP, which retired them both.

Verstappen had no right to room on the outside of Hamilton into the first chicane at Monza. Yet the Dutchman lifted off the brakes and guided his RB16B around the outside of the Silver Arrows. But, in doing so, they touched and Verstappen ended up parked on Hamilton’s W12.

Then came the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP where Verstappen won a title Hamilton was on course to take. Nicolas Latifi crashing his Williams brought out a safety car on Lap 50 and race director Michael Masi shifted from F1’s rules to ensure the race did not finish under the yellow flags.

Hamilton should have crawled across the finish line to win a record-breaking eighth drivers’ championship at Yas Marina. But Masi only let the cars between Verstappen – who Red Bull could also pit for tyres – and Hamilton unlap themselves, leaving the Mercedes ace helpless.