"You might as well bring Helmut Marko," was the no-nonsense invitation in the presence of journalists in the Japanese Grand Prix paddock.
More and more people are talking about Mercedes' desire to put an end to its recent fall from the championship in a few riders. And this is nothing less than a star transfer... Now, Tom Clarkson, host of the F1 Nation podcast, has spoken about what he saw at Suzuka:
"I spoke to a lot of colleagues in Japan and they all confirmed to me that Toto Wolff is a real fan of Max Verstappen. He has made no secret of the fact that he is putting all his effort and knowledge into getting his signature. Things have not been going well at Mercedes in recent years, but bringing Max Verstappen on board could be a real step forward in the recovery process. At least that's what I think...
I saw Toto telling Max that he is a partner in everything, if that is what it takes to transfer him, he can bring Helmut Marko with him, they will find him a position. And in that case, a real Austrian super-guard could be created at Mercedes at the level of Red Bull Racing or even further. It is a nice thought, but I don't think it is a realistic prospect and I don't think Max would sacrifice the world titles he could still win...", Clarkson reflected.
