[PapaofGags]

Marko feared Mercedes would poach Verstappen.

Red Bull motorsport advisor, Dr Helmut Marko, feared Max Verstappen could have been snapped up by Mercedes if he had not signed a new deal with the team.

Verstappen’s old contract was due to expire at the end of the 2020 season but, on Tuesday, Red Bull announced that the Dutchman had signed a new three-year contract extension which will run until the end of the 2023 campaign.

With rumours swirling around Lewis Hamilton potentially joining Ferrari, Red Bull envisaged that move would have then made Verstappen number one priority for the Silver Arrows.

“It was difficult for us to estimate what the exact story is between Ferrari and Hamilton,” Marko told Auto Motor und Sport.

"But it was clear that Mercedes must act if Hamilton were to go to Ferrari in 2021. Max would have been the first driver they’d aim for.

“That was a very important step for us. Now we can look to the future with more confidence.”