Austrian former professional racing driver and current advisor to Red Bull, Helmut Marko, has repeatedly rumours that emerged earlier this year regarding the possibility that Max Verstappen could join Mercedes, adding they were designed to “create unrest”.
Yet now Red Bull’s head of driver development features in speculation himself regarding Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc forming a “dream team” with Max Verstappen.
The Italian edition of Motorsport.com informs that Charles Leclerc is a “ghost” lurking in the background while Red Bull make up their minds about extending Sergio Perez’s one-year deal. The report states members of the Formula 1 paddock claim that Charles Leclerc is in “a bit of a tizzy” at Ferrari because his team remain so far adrift of Mercedes and Red Bull’s competitiveness.
Of course, that could change next year with the all-new cars and Charles Leclerc has a contract with the Maranello team until 2024.
However, the report says “the market sirens suggest there may have been some contact with Red Bull to find out whether Helmut Marko wanted to build a real ‘dream team’.”
They believe this would be unlikely though, saying “it’s hard to believe the people who invested in Verstappen as a goose that lays the golden eggs want to break a system that works”, while hinting that Charles Leclerc may also have a Ferrari performance-related clause in his contract.
On the other hand, says writer Franco Nugnes, a partnership of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc would be the ideal riposte if Mercedes decide to pair George Russell with Hamilton.
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