"Horner was right, Toto should’ve focused on his car": Fans react to reports of Max Verstappen being offered a mega project by Mercedes

F1 fans on social media have reacted to reports that Max Verstappen has been offered a mega contract by the Mercedes F1 team for the 2025 season.

There have been numerous rumors about the three-time world champion's future with the Red Bull F1 team despite having a contract with them until the end of the 2028 season. The Dutchman had made his feelings clear regarding his conditions if he were to leave the team amidst the ongoing internal power struggle within the organization.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff had no qualms about signing Max Verstappen in the future as a potential replacement for the departing Lewis Hamilton. Wolff has spoken about this previously this season, saying in March (via Autosport):

"It’s a kind of a relationship that needs to happen at a certain stage, but we don’t know when."

SoyMotor has now reported that the German team has offered Verstappen a contract worth €150 million, with the proposal including the signing of Helmut Marko as well.

F1 fans on X have reacted to these reports, with one of them alluding to a comment by Red Bull team boss Christian Horner on Toto Wolff.

"Horner was right, Toto should’ve focused on his car rather than RBR’s driver," said the fan.

Horner had given a stern response to Wolff's comments on Verstappen and said to the media including Sportskeeda, at the Chinese GP:

"I don’t think Toto’s problems are his drivers; I think he’s probably got other elements that he needs to be focusing on rather than focusing on drivers that are unavailable."

Another fan wrote:

"Max Verstappen is a very smart intelligent guy who knows that Toto Wolff in his current PR leadership style will definitely not bring Mercedes to winning ways anytime soon, plus he knows that Toto will use him to say robot-ike stuff and he knows that Red Bull is his home in F1."

"Why would Max move to a poorer vehicle?" another fan questioned.

Here are some more reactions:

---

Max Verstappen reacts to Toto Wolff's wishes to sign him for Mercedes

Max Verstappen stated that he was aware that Toto Wolff was quite keen on signing him for the 2025 season despite their past differences.

He told de Limburger:

"They [Mercedes] want me in that car, I understand that. Look: a few years ago there was of course a little more tension between us and Mercedes... But that can all be forgiven and forgotten.

"That's true on both sides. But that doesn't mean I think I should be driving somewhere else right now."

With all the rumors about the driver's market swirling around, the summer after the 2024 season promises to be an intriguing one.