Transfer imminent? ‘Verstappen to leave Red Bull after this season’

George Russell won the Canadian Grand Prix, but a day later there was no reward in the form of a contract extension. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is hoping for Max Verstappen, as it is well known - although the Austrian does not say so out loud.

Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull and as GPblog previously reported, he will not use his exit clause this summer, staying loyal to the team.

There are no signs that Verstappen is leaving the Austrian team, partly because he currently does not see joining Mercedes as an improvement.

But still, Robert Doornbos still thinks that the four-time world champion will eventually say he's leaving. "That he says: ‘Guys, it was fun, we tried this year. We're not going to be champions, that much is clear. I think we've made a beautiful story together. Four-time world champions, no one would have dared to write the boys' book this way’.”

According to the former F1 driver, Verstappen will come to the following conclusion at some point: “The dominance is over, I'm moving to the next chapter. I'm sure something will happen this year,” he argues in a programme of Ziggo Sport.

Toto Wolff is waiting for that moment, Doornbos assumes. Mercedes would have an excellent driver duo with Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the analyst explains.