Toto Wolff U-turns over Max Verstappen as...

Toto Wolff U-turns over Max Verstappen as Red Bull play Mercedes…read more

Toto Wolff has performed a notable U-turn in his public pursuit of Max Verstappen, signaling that he is content with Mercedes’ current driver lineup of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, even as Red Bull positions itself to capitalize on potential changes in the driver market. This development comes in the wake of Christian Horner’s suggestion that Red Bull is eyeing Russell as a possible candidate for 2026.

Wolff’s interest in Verstappen has been evident since Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari was confirmed earlier this year, marking a significant shift in the Formula 1 landscape. Since then, Mercedes had reportedly been trying to bring Verstappen, the reigning world champion, on board for the 2025 season. Despite these efforts, Mercedes has been unable to secure Verstappen, with Red Bull successfully holding onto their star driver for the foreseeable future.

However, even with Verstappen off the table for 2025, Mercedes still has a chance of acquiring him for the 2026 season. This potential opportunity presents Wolff and Mercedes with a challenging dilemma: whether to retain both Antonelli and Russell, who are products of the Mercedes junior program, or to make room for Verstappen. Wolff has previously spoken about his personal investment in Antonelli and Russell, making this decision particularly difficult for the Mercedes boss.

In recent comments to Autosport, Wolff has downplayed any immediate interest in Verstappen, suggesting that his focus is now on the drivers Mercedes already has under contract. “We’re sitting back,” Wolff stated. “I think I’ve expressed it before, and we have a similar view also from Max’s side: you’ve got to put faith in your drivers or in your team. You need to give it the maximum support you can to make it a success. And only if things go really wrong, you will consider other opportunities. For me, it’s like flirting outside whilst you’re making your relationship work.”

Wolff went on to explain that he is not looking to disrupt Mercedes’ current setup unless there is a clear need for change, noting that both he and Verstappen share similar values on this front. “I’m not flirting outside. Only if I want to have a change, or consider a change, I would seek a conversation. And it is the same on his side. We’re pretty aligned in our values on that, I think.”

Wolff’s comments are well-timed, as they come in response to Christian Horner’s recent remarks hinting that Red Bull is evaluating future driver options, including Russell, who will be out of contract at the end of 2025. Horner suggested that Red Bull would be open to considering a driver of Russell’s caliber as a potential replacement for either Verstappen or Sergio Perez. “We just want to take time to consider what those options look like for the future – and we’re not afraid to go out of the pool,” Horner said. “George Russell is out of contract at the end of next year. It would be foolish not to take that into consideration.”

Wolff was quick to dismiss Horner’s comments, emphasizing Russell’s long-standing connection with Mercedes. “Christian is always trying to stir s*** up,” Wolff responded. “It’s part of the game. George is a Mercedes driver, has been forever and hopefully will be forever. We have a long contract with him.”

This exchange between the Mercedes and Red Bull team principals adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing driver market drama, as both teams prepare for the 2026 season and beyond.