Red Bull feared Formula 1 rival and current pacesetter Mercedes would snatch Max Verstappen for the 2021 season, according to Helmut Marko. Verstappen signed a new deal this week which will keep him at Red Bull until 2023 – Marko says that deal was a 'very important step' as they believed Mercedes would approach the Dutchman to replace Lewis Hamilton, should the six-time champion move to Ferrari. Marko told Auto Motor und Sport that rumours surrounding Hamilton and whether he is mulling a switch to Ferrari led to Red Bull locking down Verstappen for the foreseeable future. 'It was difficult for us to estimate what the exact story is between Ferrari and Hamilton,' said the Austrian....
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