Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has claimed Mercedes submitted an offer to Max Verstappen to poach him away from Red Bull.
However, according to Schumacher, the four-time champion turned down the contract due to its financial conditions.
Verstappen has long been linked with a move away from Red Bull and last year, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff publicly voiced his interest in teaming up with the Dutchman.
Verstappen has cast doubt over his F1 future, admitting on several occasions that he's unhappy with the direction of the sport in relation to its technology, regulations and weekend format.
But as the 28-year-old continues to assess his own position in the sport, Schumacher has stated Mercedes has opened the door to him.
“There’s no spot at Ferrari right now,” Schumacher told the Backstage Boxengasse podcast.
“And at Mercedes, you hear that Wolff has made him an offer behind the scenes.
“But that offer was apparently so bad financially that it’s not an option anyway.
“That’s apparently what’s going on behind the scenes right now.”
Mercedes has returned to the head of the F1 pecking order this year, winning six out of the opening seven rounds of the campaign.
It is currently enjoying a strong run with second-year driver Kimi Antonelli, who has fired himself into contention for the F1 title.
Schumacher has theorised that Mercedes' alleged low-ball offer to Verstappen was deliberate, as the team recognises it will need to substantially boost Antonelli's figures if he keeps on his current trajectory.
“I believe this is intentional,” he said.
“I’ve said it before: why would Wolff bring in the expensive Max Verstappen alongside Kimi Antonelli - the next superstar if everything goes according to plan?
"Then he’d have two drivers on the team fighting each other. He remembers that well from the days of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, and that’s the last thing you want.
“Above all, he’d be putting Kimi at risk. So that actually makes no sense at all.”
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