Mercedes are reportedly preparing a staggering world record offer to Max Verstappen in a bid to lure the three-time world champion away from Red Bull.
Verstappen’s is currently on a £40million-a-year deal with Red Bull, with the Dutchman tied to the team until 2028.
There has been speculation over his future after Christian Horner was accused of 𝑠e𝑥ual harassment and controlling behaviour by a female employee. The Red Bull team principal, who has always denied the allegations, was later cleared in an internal inquiry.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has publicly engaged with the idea of bringing Verstappen to the team, previously calling it something that ‘needs to happen at some stage’.
According to Austrian outlet OE24, Mercedes are preparing to offer Verstappen a deal worth a staggering £128million per season, including bonuses.
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Mercedes are reportedly preparing to make a world record offer to Max Verstappen
Reports have claimed Mercedes could offer Verstappen £128m a year to move from Red Bull
The reported salary would be three times higher than Lewis Hamilton’s base salary at Ferrari
The deal would be more than three times the £40million base salary Lewis Hamilton will earn by moving from Mercedes to Ferrari at the start of the 2025 season.
The report also claims Mercedes will also look to tempt Helmut Marko to join from Red Bull.
Marko, a team advisor at Red Bull, is a key ally of Verstappen but has been linked with an exit from the team.
The report also claims a meeting between Verstappen and Mercedes could take place at this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.
Mail Sport’s Jonathan McEvoy revealed last month that Verstappen has a break clause in his contract that allows him to walk out of Red Bull if Marko leaves.
Verstappen joined Red Bull in 2016 and has won three consecutive world titles with the team having dominated recent seasons.
The Dutchman looks on course for a fourth straight title having won four of five races so far this season.
Wolff has suggested other factors could lure Verstappen to Mercedes, despite Red Bull’s dominance.
Mercedes principal Toto Wolff has talked up the prospect of luring Verstappen to the team
‘There are so many factors that play a role for a driver joining,’ said Wolff, who has also previously conceded that ‘Red Bull is the quickest car so that will always be the priority’.
‘Clearly when you look at it from the most rational point of view, you can say, “Well that’s the quickest car in the hands of the quickest driver”.
‘But I don’t think that this is the only reason you stay where you are. For, let’s say, simple minds, that might be the only reason you stay in a car and that’s it.
‘But maybe there is some more depth to some people that consider other factors too and I think Max has that depth.’
