Regardless of an intense rivalry in the course of the 2021 F1 season, Mercedes workforce boss Toto Wolff reckons that he will get on effectively with Jos Verstappen, father of the three-time F1 champion Max.
Ferrari made a shock announcement firstly of February, confirming the arrival of Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion was going to race for Mercedes till not less than the top of the 2025 F1 season, however he activated an exit clause that allowed him to depart the Brackley-based outfit the place he secured six of his seven F1 world titles.
Following the announcement of Hamilton’s departure, Mercedes had been looking for one of the best substitute for the seven-time world champion. In the end, the German-British squad elected to signal Italian F2 sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has been within the Mercedes’ junior driver academy for a number of years.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen has additionally been talked about as a shock substitute for Hamilton. Though the Dutchman has a multi-year contract with Crimson Bull, inside turmoil has led to instability contained in the Milton Keynes-headquartered outfit, which fuelled hypothesis about Verstappen’s potential shock departure.
Though Wolff’s choice implies that Mercedes’ line-up is mounted for subsequent 12 months, the Austrian didn’t rule out the potential for Verstappen becoming a member of the Brackley-based outfit.
“I feel it feels pure now to go to the following technology. Max is a good driver and an fascinating persona. God is aware of what occurs sooner or later.
“However having Kimi and George within the automobile, homegrown, actual Mercedes juniors, delivered each step of their profession that we supported. I’m very a lot wanting ahead to that scenario.”
Regardless of the extreme rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in the course of the 2021 F1 season, Wolff said he and Max’s father, Jos Verstappen get alongside very effectively.
“We get on very effectively, not all the time within the visibility of the general public eye. I’ve recognized Jos [Verstappen] for a very long time. He’s my age. We’ve related views on racing.
“I wouldn’t need the 12 months 2021 to place any shadow on any private relationship that we’ve. It was dangerous sufficient that 12 months, however the relationships are intact,” Wolff defined on the Excessive Efficiency podcast.
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