Mer🌸cedes are a “very, very good alternative” 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 Hami𒆙lton, 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 ꦯclause to quit early.

Howev🌼er, Verstappen has so far pledged allegꦿiance to the team who he has won the past three F1 championships with.

"Max Verstappen speaks German, and therefore Mer🐟cedes is a very, very good alternative for him,” Schumacher told .

“And he would also fit in w𒐪ell, especially his personality. But it's not that far y🎀et. “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 linke🌼d to Max Verstappen.

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

Verstapp🐷en won the first two grands prix of 2024 to immediate begin his quest for a fourth title in a row.

B🧔ut a rare and unexpected retirement from the F1 Australian Grand Prix las൲t weekend represented the first on-track chink in Red Bull’s armour.

“Of course it was a small thing, of course it was a coincidence,” Schumacher said about Verstapp𝓡en’s DNF.

“But it also shows t🔴hat this whole discussion about team boss Christian Horner is not leaving the team unscathed.

“There is talk of a carel♎ess mistake when screwing the brakes together, but of course we don't know anything more precise.

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

Verst🐟appen said about Mercedes’ interest in Australia: “It doesn’t have any impact on me of what I would d🍨o or whatever, but I mean, it’s always nice to hear that.

“But of course, Toto and I, we had our𝓀 little moments, but that’s normal betwe🎃en two teams as well, battling, I guess, for challenges, but the respect has always been there.

“But yeah, from my siꩲde, it doesn’t change ꦚanything.”