Mercedes Warned: ‘It’s Not All About Money’ in Pursuit of Verstappen Amid Hamilton’s Ferrari Move

Mercedes advised that salary discussions concerning Max Verstappen emphasize that financial priorities extend beyond just the driver’s earnings. “Funds allocated to the driver are not being invested in the vehicle.”

David Coulthard has informed Mercedes that "money isn't everything" regarding their intention to sign Max Verstappen.

Mercedes has not announced who will replace Lewis Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari next year.

Throughout this season, Toto Wolff has shown a clear interest in Max Verstappen, especially during moments when internal conflicts at Red Bull seemed on the verge of escalating.

Eddie Jordan mentioned on the Formula For Success podcast that a gathering took place in Monaco involving Toto, INEOS's Jim Ratcliffe, and Ola Källenius, the CEO of Mercedes.

"Collectively, they created a reserve of funds to address the potential need for Max's salary."

"Max knew about it. I don't think he attended the meeting."

"Doesn't that demonstrate the strong determination from Toto and his team to eventually bring Max on board?"

"It wouldn't be shocking if Max ended up driving for Mercedes in the next few years."

Former F1 driver Coulthard commented: "Max is currently the top-paid driver in Formula 1. Perhaps this could shift to Lewis if he joins Ferrari, but I'm not certain."

"It's not just about the financial aspect; it's also about how well the job is done."

"You can create a financial reserve, but any money allocated to the driver is money that isn't being invested in the car."

Jordan shared stories from his tenure as a Formula 1 team principal, illustrating how he successfully persuaded sponsors to provide funding to secure Damon Hill.

He emphasized that he consistently preferred young drivers because they offered better value.

"I would have chosen Oscar Piastri…"

'Gambling on future outcomes'

During the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend, Martin Brundle from Sky Sports asserted that any previous agreements allowing Verstappen an exit option, contingent on Helmut Marko's departure from Red Bull, are no longer valid.

Coulthard mentioned earlier, "Although I haven’t seen the contract myself, based on the rumors circulating in the paddock, he apparently has one. He will be with Red Bull."

"As long as the vehicle and the crew provide him with confidence that he can compete for race wins, I don't think that will change."

“He feels at ease and content in that place. As demonstrated by Lewis's experience, choosing to move to a different location doesn't guarantee an improvement in circumstances.”

“When he made the decision to join Ferrari, they were outperforming Mercedes. Currently, Mercedes has the upper hand over Ferrari.”

"You are taking a gamble on how things will turn out in the future."

"When teams are successful, they exchange nods, thinking, 'Look at how well we're doing! We've hit our technical goals…'"

"During the period after Sebastian Vettel's tenure with Red Bull, the team often attributed their challenges to factors like the engine, which were beyond their control."

“At McLaren, whenever problems arose, Ron Dennis had no issues attributing them to Mercedes, as he wasn't the one responsible for constructing the engine.”

“In these strategic alliances, blame is frequently assigned.

"Following triumph often comes failure. People wonder, 'I was on a victorious team, so which member is making mistakes now?'"

"It's hard to admit when you've made a mistake with the figures."

The introduction of the new F1 rules in 2026 could present Mercedes with a fresh chance to secure Verstappen.

The engine they are developing is considered highly valuable once the new regulations take effect and could attract interest from leading drivers.

Commenting on Verstappen’s prospects, Coulthard suggested: “He might join Mercedes. Moving to Ferrari is off the table for the next couple of years unless either Charles or Lewis leaves or is dismissed, given their solid contracts.”

"That logically means the only option left is a switch to Mercedes. Toto has been transparent about his management approach, clearly stating 'yes, he’s a target'."

"McLaren possesses two exceptional drivers, each of whom could be considered a number one, which may lead to complex situations."

I believe Max will likely remain with Red Bull, although a switch to Mercedes is also a possibility for him.

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