Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has revealed how close he was to signing Max Verstappen to star alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen might be top of the podium at the moment with Red Bull but it was not long ago when Mercedes swept up prizes for fun.

Verstappen has dominated Formula 1 this year Credit: Getty

It was Hamilton who broke Red Bull’s stranglehold over Formula 1 in 2014, along with Nico Rosberg.

But the next year, Verstappen joined the grid when he opted to sign for Red Bull – starting out at Toro Rosso as the sport’s youngest ever driver.

However, in another universe, the Dutch racer would be currently teamed up with Hamilton – not battling him as a rival.

Speaking to F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, per Planet F1, Mercedes team principal Wolff revealed how Verstappen impressed but there was no seat for him at the time.

“Max was very good in karting, was good in F3, and it was clear that there’s a big one that’s growing,” Wolff said.

“And we talked to them in the initial phases, and it was a nice discussion with Jos [Verstappen] and with Max involved as well.

“But it was clear that we couldn’t give him a seat because we had Nico and we had Lewis and we offered the support in F2.

“But since Red Bull was able to offer them the AlphaTauri seat, or Toro Rosso back in the day, it got Max into the seat.”

Wolff had a look at Verstappen as a potential Hamilton teammate Credit: Getty

Mercedes could have had Hamilton and Verstappen together Credit: Getty

Verstappen only spent one season car racing before making it onto the grid, skipping the GP3 and GP2 path which many had to go through.

Now known as FIA, F3 and F2 for young drivers nowadays, Verstappen’s talent was there for all to see.

Rosberg left the Silver Arrows startled with his abrupt retirement after winning the World Championship in 2016.

It saw Mercedes scour quickly for a new driver, eventually settling on Valtteri Bottas from Williams, who would partner Hamilton for five years.

But asked if Verstappen was ever an option, Wolff said: “Well, maybe. But you know, if and when.

“If I would know where the stock market is next year, I would decide to invest in it or not.

“We would be very happy and rich people if we would know what happens 12 months on.”