Mercedes-affiliated team boss thinks it's time for Verstappen to win title

Mercedes affiliate Hubert Haupt has expressed his preference for a new F1 champion. Haupt, therefore, hopes that not Lewis Hamilton will take the title again, but that Verstappen will run away with it.CH

Haupt is the boss of his own DTM team and drives three Mercedes AMG cars in the championship. Yet his heart is not fully in Mercedes' power efforts, according to an interview with him from the German Sport1.

Together with Mercedes driver and DTM champion Maximilian Götz, Haupt is a guest. The pair are asked who should win the F1 championship in 2021. Haupt laughingly and slightly embarrassed replies.

"Max Verstappen. I think it's time for someone other than Lewis Hamilton to be world champion." Haupt explains that his loyalty obviously lies with Mercedes, but he stresses, "When it comes to Formula 1, it will be a huge achievement if Red Bull wins the title. I hope Verstappen can pull it off."