Toto Wolff has accepted Max Verstappen is not going to be becoming a member of Mercedes in 2025 however says he retains an curiosity in signing the Crimson Bull driver in 2026 following summer season talks with the Dutchman’s camp.
Mercedes staff principal Wolff has publicly courted world champion Verstappen all through the primary half of the season following Lewis Hamilton’s resolution to depart for Ferrari subsequent 12 months.
Because the season resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend, Wolff stated he held discussions with Verstappen’s supervisor Raymond Vermeulen and father Jos throughout the summer season break.
“I thought all through the year that there was a window or that there was a possibility. It wasn’t zero,” Wolff instructed a bunch of Dutch reporters in Zandvoort.
“It is fairly bumpy floor there nonetheless, and never just for efficiency causes, but in addition due to interpersonal points that we’re all conscious.
“By the best way, I obtained on with Jos for all my life. However possibly as a result of we’re a bit related. And that is why I believed the door was by no means fully closed.
“What had been the percentages of that taking place? Possibly they had been 10 to 1. 9 to 1. Nonetheless, I did not need to surrender, however then we collectively got here to the conclusion over the summer season that we should not be ready for one thing to occur earlier than committing for 2025, however let’s simply proceed our job, Max at Crimson Bull and right here at Mercedes taking our personal driver selections.
“And that was a kind of a joint thought.”
Wolff drops main Antonelli trace
It may very well be inferred from Wolff’s feedback that Mercedes will now signal Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli to companion George Russell subsequent season.
There was rising hypothesis that Antonelli, who turns 18 on Sunday, will substitute Hamilton, and Wolff solely fuelled that on Friday as he momentarily talked about Russell and the Italian as his line-up for 2025.
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Kimi Antonelli secured a formidable first F2 function race win on the Hungarian Grand Prix
“Soon, we will confirm who is in the second seat. And what I also said is that the two drivers that are in the car have our full support, 100 per cent,” Wolff stated.
“And therefore, I’m entering the season in 2025 with two drivers that we will be given all the opportunity to perform.
“And that is why I do not need to discuss concerning the 2026 driver line-up at that stage as a result of I need to make it work with George and Kimi.”
Wolff has ‘feeling’ Verstappen and Mercedes’ paths will cross
Verstappen has a contract with Crimson Bull till the top of the 2028 season however each driver and staff principal Christian Horner have made feedback this 12 months hinting that an earlier departure is feasible.
Crimson Bull have dominated because the sport’s design rules modified in 2022, however Mercedes are assured of returning to profitable methods below the subsequent set of recent guidelines which can be coming in for the 2026 season.
Whereas respecting Russell and his hypothetical 2025 team-mate Antonelli, Wolff made it clear he needs to maintain the choice open to signal Verstappen sooner or later.
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Verstappen says the slower tempo Crimson Bull been working with is no surprise to him
“What I like with Max, Raymond and Jos is that we talk straight. We don’t need to push each other. We have been in this too long; we’ve taken the decision for drivers for next year. This is what our full effort is going into,” he added.
“Hopefully that’s going to be the line-up for 2026 and beyond. But that doesn’t close the door on Max being with us in 2026 or beyond, because we want to still keep all the options open in the same way he does. So what I enjoyed in our conversations is there is never a hidden agenda.
“Someway I’ve that feeling [that Mercedes and Verstappen’s paths will cross]. However I do not know when that may very well be. Whether or not it is ’26, whether or not it is three years’ later, I do not know but.”
Horner: Max was never available to Mercedes
Speaking to Sky Sports News earlier on Friday, Horner insisted Verstappen had never been “obtainable” to Mercedes for next season.
“The scenario has been, as we have been stating all by the 12 months, that we all know what our settlement is with Max, Max is aware of what his settlement with us is and he is actually not obtainable to Mercedes for 2025,” Horner stated.
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Christian Horner says Verstappen was by no means obtainable to Mercedes after the staff confirmed curiosity within the driver for the 2025 season
“He never was. So I’m sure whatever options they choose to take, they’ve thought carefully about.”
Horner, who promoted Verstappen to Crimson Bull’s senior staff on the age of 18, stated he can be prepared to credit score his rival Wolff if he had been to go along with Antonelli.
He added: “If they choose to give Antonelli the seat then you’ve got to commend them for taking a risk with a youngster.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s stay Dutch GP schedule
Saturday August 24
10.15am: Dutch GP Follow Three (session begins 10.30am)
1pm: Dutch GP Qualifying build-up
2pm: DUTCH GP QUALIFYING
4pm: F1 Academy: Race One
Sunday August 25
9.40am: F1 Academy: Race Two
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Dutch GP build-up
2pm: The DUTCH GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Dutch GP response
System 1 returns after the summer season break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort this weekend, stay on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime.
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