'Clearly you need to explore': Mercedes boss Toto Wolff's telling response as Max Verstappen rumours explode
The idea of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes would have seemed outlandish when he fought Lewis Hamilton in the controversial title decider in 2021. Now it's the hot topic in the Formula 1 paddock.
The build-up to this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix was dominated by comments made the day before by Mercedes driver George Russell to British broadcaster Sky Sports.
Neither Russell nor teammate Kimi Antonelli have a contract extension for 2026, and the former seemed to suggest Verstappen and Mercedes were in talks.
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"As Mercedes, they want to be back on top, and if you're going to be back on top you need to make sure you’ve got the best drivers, the best engineers, the best pit crew, and that's what Mercedes are chasing," Russell said.
Max Verstappen has been linked with a move to Mercedes. Getty
"So, it's only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing. But from my side, if I'm performing as I'm doing, what have I got to be concerned about? There are two seats in every Formula 1 team."
It would be one of the biggest driver changes ever in F1 — on par with Hamilton's switch to Ferrari — if Verstappen, a Red Bull driver since childhood, joined the team which has often been his toughest challenger.
It would mean working with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who was left to exclaim "that was so not right" at the controversial decision at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which helped Verstappen beat then-Mercedes driver Hamilton to the title on the last lap of the season.
Asked about Russell's comments and whether any talks with Verstappen were happening, Wolff signaled Mercedes would "need to explore" future developments.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. dpa/picture alliance via Getty I
"I like what George says, and I'm always supportive of the driver, and there's no such thing as saying things I wouldn't want him to say," Wolff said.
"I think we are very transparent in the team for what we do, what we plan, and we've been like that since I was put in charge of that. So that's not the issue.
"At the moment, clearly you need to explore what's happening in the future, but it doesn't change anything of what I said before about George, about Kimi, about the lineup that I'm extremely happy (to have)."
Both Russell and Antonelli, in his first year of F1, have been strong this season. Russell won last time out in Canada.
Verstappen has a long-term contract through 2028, so in theory his Red Bull seat should be one of the safest on the grid. However, the deal has performance-related clauses – believed to be a drop outside the top-three in the drivers' standings – which could reportedly allow a move.
Verstappen was third-fastest after Friday practice. Getty
"I don't think we need to talk about that," Verstappen said when asked to confirm whether he’ll stay with the team for 2026.
"It's not really in my mind. It's just driving and trying to push the performance, you know. And then we focus on next year."
Verstappen showed consistent pace in both practice sessions at the Red Bull Ring in the Styrian Mountains as his team tried out new upgrades.
Lando Norris gave up his car to McLaren junior Alex Dunne in the first session but went fastest in the second by 0.157secs from teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri. The Australian leads Norris by 22 points after their collision at the last race in Canada. Verstappen was third fastest.
In the first session, Verstappen was second fastest, .065 off Russell. Piastri was third but the star of the session was Dunne, who placed fourth.
It was another mixed day for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc's fifth place in the second session its best result. His teammate Hamilton was ninth and 10th.
Oscar Piastri finished the opening day of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend in second. AP
No team in F1 depends as much on one driver as Red Bull does on Verstappen. He's scored 155 of the team's 162 points this season.
His teammates — first Liam Lawson, then Tsunoda — have struggled all season. That's helped to restore the reputation of Sergio Perez, who was dropped by Red Bull after scoring barely one-third of Verstappen's points last season. Tsunoda was 17th in Friday's first session and seventh in the second.
"I know, deep down, they really regret it," Perez said on a podcast this week.
"And I know that from a very reliable source. It's tough. I have very good friends there, and people might think I take pleasure in what happened, but no."
Red Bull's car seems to favor Verstappen's unique driving style over anyone else's, but the Dutchman says he doesn't know what makes it different.
"The thing is that I don't know any better, right? I only know one car and that’s how I drive."
Qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix begins midnight (AEST) Saturday night, before the race at 11pm Sunday.
