SHANGHAI – Red Bull’s three-time world champion Max Verstappen has more depth to him and so could consider a move to Mercedes, even though he is in the quickest Formula One car, Toto Wolff, the German team’s boss, said on April 21.

Speculation that the 26-year-old might leave the champions arose earlier in 2024 after allegations against team principal Christian Horner of misconduct towards a female employee. Horner was later cleared, although it stoked rumours of divisions within the team.

Former champions Mercedes have a vacancy, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton going to Ferrari in 2025.

“There are so many factors that play a role for a driver joining. And clearly, when you look at it from the most rational point of view, you can say that it is the quickest car in the hands of the quickest driver,” Wolff said after the Chinese Grand Prix.

“But I don’t think that this is the only reason you stay where you are. Maybe there is some more depths to some people, that consider other factors too. I think Max has that.”

Red Bull won 21 of 22 races last season with the most dominant car in the sport’s history and the team’s star driver won the race in Shanghai from pole for his fourth win in five races in 2024.

Wolff said that Mercedes had held conversations with many drivers over their upcoming vacant seat.

“As for Max, no, we are not at the point where we would have discussed years or stuff,” the Mercedes team principal added.

Horner described Verstappen as a man driving “on another planet” following the Chinese Grand Prix.

“At the end of the day, we know (Verstappen) has a contract until the end of 2028,” Horner said in response to Wolff’s remarks.

“I don’t think Toto’s problems are his drivers. I think he’s got other elements that he needs to be focusing on rather than, you know, focusing on drivers that are unavailable.”

Wolff said he felt his team would make a particularly attractive proposition from 2026, when new chassis and engine regulations will come into play.

“If I was Max, I would stay at Red Bull in 2025, but I’m not Max,” he said.

“Because it’s the quickest car but there are other factors.”

On the track, McLaren’s Lando Norris finished a surprise second in Shanghai to deny dominant Red Bull the one-two.

Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate and closest championship rival, is now 25 points behind the Dutchman.

The Mexican completed the podium after a dry race with two safety car periods that compromised his race.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished fourth and fifth respectively, with Mercedes’ George Russell sixth and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso seventh with a bonus point for the fastest lap.

The victory was the 58th of Verstappen’s career and Shanghai became the 26th track he has won at.

“It felt amazing. All weekend I think we were incredibly quick. It was just enjoyable to drive,” said Verstappen, who took the chequered flag 13.773sec clear of Norris.

“The car was basically on rails and I could do whatever I wanted to with it.”

Norris ensured China was the season’s first race without one team finishing first and second – Ferrari took the one-two in Australia and Red Bull the rest – with his 15th career podium and eighth second place.

“I just wasn’t expecting today at all,” said the Briton, who started fourth on the grid and was voted Driver of the Day.

“I got everything ready to go home early and not be on the podium, so it’s a pleasant surprise.

“I made a bet to how far behind the Ferrari we would finish today. I thought 35 seconds and I was very wrong about that. So happy to be wrong with myself, and my own bets.”

China’s first and only driver Zhou Guanyu, in his first home race, had the honour of parking behind the Red Bulls and crouched in tears before saluting the crowd.

The Sauber driver finished 14th. REUTERS