Lammers doesn’t see Verstappen leaving Red Bull: ‘They’re a bit used to each other’

Max Verstappen has been frequently linked in recent weeks with a departure from the Mercedes Formula 1 team, but NOS analysts do not think the world champion will become George Russell’s new teammate in 2025. Fernando Alonso’s name could also be removed from the list. Mercedes has extended its contract with Aston Martin, which gives Lawrence Stroll the opportunity to sign a ‘dream’ pair of drivers for 2026.

Since it was announced that Lewis Hamilton will close the door of Mercedes behind him at the end of the year, after twelve seasons, there have been many rumors about replacing the seven times world champion. Reporter Louis Dekker thinks he knows who that driver will be. “Mercedes now knows that Alonso is not coming,” Dekker says Formula 1-podcast from NOS about extending Alonso’s contract with his current team. “I’m still putting my money on Andrea Kimi Antonelli there, because there’s frustration with Toto Wolff that it didn’t work with Verstappen,” he says, referring to 2014 when the three-time world champion chose Red Bull Racing.

“Now there is another young dog coming and we have seen in Ferrari and Oliver Bearman that it can go well,” Dekker explains his confidence further. ‘So now they bring Antonelli very carefully. They already know at Mercedes that they won’t win races again at this time, but in 2026 there will be new regulations and then they can let him do his thing for a year first. I think all the stories about Sainz to Mercedes, Verstappen to Mercedes, Jut and Jul to Mercedes are all irrelevant. I think it will be the young Kimi Antonelli,” the reporter repeated.

Jan Lammers agrees with his colleague, especially about Verstappen. ‘I don’t see Max (Verstappen, ed.) going to Mercedes. I think Red Bull will eventually keep him on his contract and it is difficult for everyone at Red Bull to leave. Because everyone wants to work for the best team with the best drivers and the best equipment, so those people have also become addicted to each other because of their success because of their high qualities, “says Lammers. ‘If someone goes down, it can fall like a house of cards, but at this point I see Verstappen staying where he is. As long as he wins the race easily, I think he’ll be comfortable for a while.’

Opportunities for Aston Martin to bring a good pair of drivers

Alonso, now 42 years old, recently extended his contract with Aston Martin for several seasons. Dekker would love it if Verstappen joined the owner Stroll’s team in 2026. Lammers, for his part, thinks that the rich Canadian will certainly not let this opportunity pass. “If something happened at Red Bull and as soon as Verstappen is not sure about something, I think he (Stroll, ed.) would be the first to be ready with a blank check,” said the former F1 driver. who has little trouble for an Aston Martin owner. ‘But then (Lawrence, editor.) Stroll obviously has a problem. Where does she take Lance (Stroll, ed.) to daycare? Of course that was his motivation for starting the team in the first place. That’s a small thing,’ Lammers concludes.