Lewis Hamilton has officially endorsed Mercedes to Max Verstappen as the four-time world champion weighs up a switch to the Brackley-based squad. The legendary Brit departed Toto Wolff’s organisation at the end of the 2024 campaign for a new adventure with Ferrari.
Verstappen has spent his entire career within the Red Bull ecosystem, graduating into F1 with Toro Rosso before stepping into the senior team as Daniil Kvyat’s replacement. However, four World Championships later, the dynasty could be coming to an end with Mercedes ready to pounce on the Milton Keynes squad’s recent struggles. The 27-year-old has been intermittently linked with Wolff’s team since early in 2024, but after George Russell let on that talks were officially ongoing between Verstappen’s entourage and Mercedes, a move is closer than ever.
For Verstappen, the decision will not be an easy one. Red Bull have delivered him four World Championships, and Mercedes, while contending for the odd win here and there, have been perennial nearly-men throughout the ground effect era. That said, they have now leapfrogged his current squad and have plenty of promise for the new regulations in 2026, while question marks remain over the Red Bull Powertrains operation.
Asked if he would recommend his former employers to the reigning champion, Hamilton said: “Of course. I mean, he’s coming from a great team. Many, many years ago, I was being asked something about, I can’t remember. I think I was just so diehard Mercedes at the time, and I remember saying something about Red Bull being only a drinks company.
“And I always regretted it, because I was just saying that Mercedes at the time was just great. I was really just trying to G up my team, but the truth is, Red Bull have been an incredible team. There’s so many people there that are exceptional, and they’ve dominated for years.
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“But what I can say, if anyone was going to ask me about Mercedes, it’s an amazing team also. With, naturally, the passion, they’ve got great personnel, it’s a great factory, great environment to work in. So, of course, I would say, be interested to see what happens.”
If Verstappen takes up Hamilton’s recommendation, he will likely oust former team-mate Russell from the organisation which supported him through the junior ranks and promoted him into a race-winning F1 seat.
The 27-year-old recorded a stellar Grand Prix victory just two rounds ago in Montreal and has been exceptional in 2025, sitting only nine points behind Verstappen in the standings, but could still be left on the outside looking in. If Russell is forced to move on, Red Bull, Alpine and Cadillac would be his most viable options.
