Mercedes are a “very, very good alternative” for Max Verstappen, claims Ralf S�♋�chumacher.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolf🌠f has named Red Bull driver as the No1 option on a four-man shortlist to replace Lewis Hamilton, who will go to Ferrari next year.

Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028 but, amid the internal controversy at F1’❀s dominant team, it has emerged that he can activate🐷 a contractual clause to quit early.

However, Verstappen has so far pledged allegiance to the team who he has won the past thre🌟e ওF1 championships with.

"Max Verstappen speak🌼s Germ𒀰an, and therefore Mercedes is a very, very good alternative for 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 o𝕴f course do that too, because his contract is basically linked 𓃲to Max Verstappen.

“I also don't think the▨y would stand in his way at Red Bull if he wanted to leave."

Verstappen won the first two grands prix oღf 2024 to immediate begin his ♈quest for a fourth title in a row.

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

“Of course it wa🌟s a small thing, of course⛦ it was a coincidence,” Schumacher said about Verstappen’s DNF.

“But it also shows that this whole 𝄹dis💖cussion about team boss Christian Horner is 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 more precise.

"What we know for sure is that the tea🌃m is still pretty divided, that there are tensions with Max's father, and that 𓆏Max is thinking about an alternative."

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

“But of course, Toto and I, we had our little moments, bu📖t that’s normal between tw💎o teams as well, battling, I guess, for challenges, but the respect has always been there.

“But yeah, from my side, it doesn’t change anyt♍hing.”