Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says two drivers are ahead of Max Verstappen in the queue for a future seat at the team.
As Red Bull continues to lag behind, and with Honda’s decision to quit Formula 1 after 2021, there has been growing questions over whether the Dutchman might seek a move to Mercedes in order to fight for the world title.
Certainly, rumours of Verstappen joining the Brackley-based team are nothing new, having been linked to conversations with Wolff almost every year since 2016.
However, when it comes to whether Mercedes actually want the 23-year-old in their ranks, Wolff says their allegiance remains firmly to their own junior drivers.
“Max is clearly committed to Red Bull and is loyal to the team,” the Austrian told Motorsport-Magazin.com.
“I am very happy with my two drivers. If there is a generational change in the future, then George Russell and Esteban Ocon are in the starting blocks.”
That comment comes as rumours claim both Russell and Ocon could be without a seat for 2021 as Pierre Gasly is linked to Renault and Sergio Perez to Williams in a late silly season surge.
Mercedes has also been reluctant though to give their youngsters a chance in the past, just ask Pascal Wehrlein and Ocon, who were overlooked for Valtteri Bottas.
The final observation would be whether Mercedes would really bypass an opportunity to sign the driver most consider the best of the next generation of drivers, despite the obvious ability Russell and Esteban have.
Certainly, as Bottas and Lewis Hamilton head into the final years of their F1 careers, it will be interesting to see what direction the team goes in.
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