Mercedes are a “very, very good alterna𓃲tive” for Max Verstappen, claims Ralf Schumacher.

Mercedes boss Toto🦩 Wolff has named Red Bull driver as the No1 option on a four-man shortlist to replace Lewis Hamilton, who wi💧ll go to Ferrari next year.

Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028 but, am♔id the internal controversy at F1’s d🐟ominant team, it has emerged that he can activate a contractual clause to quit early.

𓃲However, Verstappen has so far pledged allegiance to the team who he has won the past three F1 championshꦬips with.

"Max Verstappen speaks German, and therefore Mercedes is a very, very good alternative f𝔍or him,” Schumacher told .

“And he would also fit in well, especially his personality. But it's not that far yet. “And by 💎the way: theoretically he has to first get🍌 out of the contract.

“Helmut Marko could of course do that too, becau๊se his contracꦆt is basically linked to Max Verstappen.

“💃I also don't think they would stand in🎀 his way at Red Bull if he wanted to leave."

Verstappen won the first two grands prix of 2024 to immedᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚiate begin his quest for a fourth title in a r𒁃ow.

But a rare and unexpected retirement from the F1 Australian Grand Prix last weekend represented the first on-track chink in Red Bull’s ar🦂mour.

“Of course it was ♋a small thing, of course it was a coincidence,” Schumacher s🔯aid about Verstappen’s DNF.

“But it also shows that this whole discussion about team boss Christian Horner i🐭s🦂 not leaving the team unscathed.

“There is talk of 💞a careless mistake when screwing the brakes together, but of course we don't know anything moreꦓ precise.

"What we know for sure is t🐭hat the team is still pretty divided, that there are tensions with Max's father, and that Max is thinking about an alternative."

Verstappen said about Mercedes’ interest in Australia: “It doesn’t have any impact on me of what I would do😼 or whatever, but I mean, it’s a𓄧lways nice to hear that.

“But of course, Toto and I, we had our little moments, but that’s normal between two teams aꦜs well, battling, I guess, for challenges, but the respect has always been there.

“But yeah, froౠm my side, i𝔍t doesn’t change anything.”