Mercedes are a “very, very good alternative” for Max Verstappen, claims Ralf Schuma﷽cher.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has named Red Bull driver as𒆙 the No1 option on a four-man shortlist to replace Lewis Hamilton, who wil♈l go to Ferrari next year.

Verstapp♔en 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 haꦍs won the past three F1 championships with.

"Max Verstappen speaks German, and therefore Mercedes is a very, very good alternative for him,” Sch𝕴umacher 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, because his contract is basically linked to Max Verstappen.

“I also don't think♎ they would stand in his way at Red Bull if he wanted to l💫eave."

Verstappen won the first two grands prix of 2024 to immediate begin hi﷽s quest for a fourth title in a row.

But a rare and unexpected retirement from the F1 Australian Grand Prix last weekendꦕ represen🐓ted the first on-track chink in Red Bull’s armour.

“Of co𝕴urse it was a small th😼ing, of course it was a coincidence,” Schumacher said about Verstappen’s DNF.

“But it also shows that this whole discussion about team boss Christian Ho꧒rner 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 anythi🍒ng more pre⛦cise.

"What we know for sure ♔is that the team is still pretty divided, that there are tensions with Max's father, a🦄nd 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 do𓂃 or whatever, but I mean, it’s always nice to hear that.

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

“But ye𝓡ah, from my side, it doesn’t changꦯe anything.”