Verstappen To Mercedes? Horner Tells Wolff To Move His Focus In Pursuit Of F1 Champion

Christian Horner has told Toto Wolff to focus on his struggling team after the Mercedes boss refused to back down in his pursuit of Max Verstappen. (More Motorsport News)

Red Bull바카라�s Verstappen secured another commanding win in China on Sunday to cement his status as the best driver in Formula One.

The Dutchman has won 21 of the last 23 races staged and he remains on an unstoppable course to take his fourth world crown in as many seasons.

Mercedes, the team which once dominated the sport, endured another underwhelming afternoon, with George Russell sixth and Lewis Hamilton bemoaning that his car was 바카라�broken바카라� and 바카라�slow바카라�, as he drove back from 18th to ninth.

But despite his unprecedented success, Verstappen 바카라� under contract until 2028 바카라� has resisted multiple opportunities to confirm he will remain with Red Bull next year following the scandal which engulfed the world champions at the beginning of the season 바카라� and is again likely to rear its head with Horner바카라�s accuser in the process of appealing the company바카라�s decision to exonerate him of 바카라�inappropriate behaviour바카라�.

Speaking prior to Sunday바카라�s race, Verstappen would only say he wanted a 바카라�quiet and peaceful environment바카라� when pressed over whether he would stay at Red Bull.

And Wolff, seeking a superstar replacement for the Ferrari-bound Hamilton, said: 바카라�There are so many factors that play a role for a driver joining and clearly 바카라� when you look at it from the most rational point of view 바카라� you can say 바카라�well that바카라�s the quickest car in the hands of the quickest driver바카라�.

바카라�But I don바카라�t think that this is the only reason you stay where you are. Maybe there is some more depth to some people that consider other factors, too? And I think Max has that depth.

바카라�Are we going to convince him? I don바카라�t think it바카라�s a matter of convincing him. Max knows motor racing better than anyone and he will take decisions that he feels are good for him.

바카라�A few factors play a role but he바카라�s the one that is going to trigger some more dominos to fall afterwards. And everybody is waiting on what he is going to do.바카라�

Verstappen바카라�s father, Jos, is expected to be back at the next round in Miami 바카라� his first paddock appearance since he took the pin out of the grenade by claiming in Bahrain that Red Bull would 바카라�explode바카라� if Horner remained in his post.

Wolff added: 바카라�I don바카라�t think that anyone can sell anything to Max, Jos and (Verstappen바카라�s manager) Raymond (Vermeulen).

바카라�It is a question of how they feel where the future is best for them, considering a lot of factors.바카라�

However, Horner remained adamant that Verstappen, 26, would not quit a team that have failed to win only seven of the last 49 races.

바카라�When did he (Wolff) say that (about Verstappen)?바카라� he asked. 바카라�I don바카라�t think Toto바카라�s problems are his drivers. He has other elements he needs to focus on, rather than focusing on drivers that are unavailable.

바카라�Mercedes are behind their customer teams at the moment. His time would be better spent focusing on the team than the driver market. Sometimes it is just designed to create noise.

바카라�I can assure you that there is no ambiguity as to where Max Verstappen will be next year. I don바카라�t know how many more times Max can say he is staying.

바카라�Today we moved ahead of Mercedes in terms of races won in the modern era. So, the team is in form.

바카라�Why on earth would you want to leave this team?바카라�

Verstappen will head to the United States for round six with a 25-point lead over team-mate Sergio Perez, who finished third on Sunday.

McLaren바카라�s Lando Norris split the Red Bull drivers following an impressive showing from the British driver, while Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished fourth and fifth respectively for Ferrari.

바카라�I made a bet before the race as to how far behind the Ferrari drivers we would finish and I said 바카라�35 seconds바카라�,바카라� joked Norris after he recorded his best result of the season so far.

바카라�I am surprised, but very happy. The team deserve it. Good day, good points and another podium. I am happy to be wrong about the bet.바카라�