Bernie Ecclestone made a Max Verstappen prediction in 2018 that has spectacularly backfired

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Very few people know more about the inner workings of Formula 1 than Bernie Ecclestone.

Although Bernie Ecclestone no longer has direct control of the sport he helped build for decades, that doesn’t mean that he’s no longer influential.

Ecclestone joined a recent F1 commission meeting to discuss the upcoming ruleset change, and reportedly wasn’t shy about offering his opinion.

The current grid have all heard his opinions on their talents and career decisions over the years as well.

Ecclestone insisted Lewis Hamilton should walk away from Ferrari if he no longer believes he can win an F1 championship, and even suggested an unlikely potential replacement.

However, while he’s got plenty of things right during his time overseeing Formula 1, he’s not always correct.

A prediction Ecclestone made in a conversation with Nico Rosberg about Max Verstappen back in 2018 has come to light, and no longer adds up.

READ MORE: Bernie Ecclestone once snubbed Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna when naming his ‘greatest’ F1 driver

Bernie Ecclestone predicted Mercedes would never want to sign Max Verstappen

Rosberg and Ecclestone were speaking on the Beyond Victory Podcast seven years ago, and the German world champion suggested when talking about Daniel Ricciardo’s exit from the team that Verstappen was ‘a big problem’.

“Christian is surprised,” Ecclestone remarked, talking about Ricciardo choosing to join Renault.

He continued: “I don’t think any of the world champions today would want to have him [Verstappen] in the team.

“I think he’d have a bigger job of getting a seat in the team [Ferrari] than Fernando [Alonso] has.

“I don’t think Ferrari would welcome him with open arms, or Mercedes.”

Rosberg replied: “I’m not so sure, he’s very special,” to which Ecclestone said: “Put it this way, you wouldn’t be delighted if you were in a team, forget the word number one, but assuming you’re the top guy in the team, and somebody says the guy that’s going to drive in the other car is Verstappen.

“So, Sebastian wouldn’t want him, I’m sure, Lewis wouldn’t want him.”

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Max Verstappen to Mercedes put on hold after Red Bull exit decision is postponed until 2026

Verstappen has a contract until the end of 2028 with Red Bull, but whether he sees it out is another matter.

Performance clauses in his current deal mean that if his – and more importantly, the team’s – results don’t meet his lofty standards, then he can explore options elsewhere on the grid.

Mercedes greenlit a move for Verstappen this season, but as soon as the Dutchman was confirmed to be inside the top three of the drivers’ championship by the summer break, an exit became far more difficult to negotiate.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, might have been lining up a move for Verstappen to join in 2027 instead.

It gives him an extra year to determine whether Andrea Kimi Antonelli is the generational talent many have suggested he could be, and to see if George Russell has the capability to win a world championship.

Although Ecclestone never thought Verstappen would be of interest to Mercedes, he’s also unlikely to have predicted the Silver Arrows would not have a world champion in their midst.