Mercedes eyes Verstappen while ensuring Russell’s future remains secure

Toto Wolff Confirms Mercedes’ Interest in Verstappen but Stresses Russell Talks Unaffected

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed the team’s interest in potentially signing Max Verstappen in the future but insists this exploration is not derailing ongoing contract negotiations with George Russell for 2026.

Speculation surrounding Verstappen’s possible switch to Mercedes intensified after Russell suggested earlier this week that discussions over his contract extension were being delayed due to Mercedes’ interest in the Red Bull star. Russell’s current deal with the team expires at the end of 2023, while Mercedes has already secured the highly-rated 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli on a long-term junior driver contract.

Verstappen, a four-time world champion, is under contract with Red Bull until 2028. However, Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has hinted at the existence of performance-based clauses that could allow Verstappen to leave before the deal’s expiration.

Wolff Addresses Russell’s Contract Situation

In an interview with Sky Sports, Wolff clarified that Russell’s situation hasn’t been impacted by speculation surrounding Verstappen:

“First of all, there is no delay in George’s contract situation because it’s pretty clear what our timings are. We’ve known each other for a long time, so there’s no such thing as a delay. But also, as the team principal responsible for the best car brand in the world, it is clear you are exploring what a four-time world champion like Verstappen might do in the future. That could be a long time in the future. But that has no effect on us putting a signature on George’s contract.”

According to Wolff, Russell has been kept fully informed about the team’s stance on Verstappen, emphasizing transparency within the organization:

“What we are trying to do in the team is be transparent, as we always have been. These drivers are clever people, and they talk to each other. I’m always open about these things and say it how it is. There’s no such thing as saying, ‘We’re going to sign Max,’ because it’s so far away. It’s not realistic at this stage. With George, we talk about everything.”

Wolff Deflects Verstappen Signing Queries

At Friday’s news conference during the Austrian Grand Prix, Wolff deflected questions about Mercedes’ pursuit of Verstappen. When asked about a potential deadline for signing the Dutchman, he dismissed the idea of the team engaging in formal discussions at this point:

“You make it sound like we’ve been asking, ‘When do you want to join and what are the terms?’ That’s not how it is, and not how it works. I just want to have these conversations behind closed doors—not in town halls. We have two drivers [Russell and Lewis Hamilton] who have been part of our program for a long time. They’re drivers I’m perfectly happy with and who will do great things for the future of the team. So it’s a bit of a different situation.”

Verstappen’s Evading Answers

Verstappen, for his part, declined to offer clarity on his plans for 2026 when speaking to the media on Thursday:

“I don’t think we need to talk about that. I don’t know, do you want me to repeat what I said last year? I don’t know. It’s the same answer. I don’t even remember what I said last year, really. But again, it’s not really on my mind. Just driving well, trying to push the performance, and then we focus on next year.”

Wolff’s Praise and Confidence in Russell

Despite the noise surrounding Verstappen, Wolff reiterated his confidence in Russell and shut down suggestions that the driver’s position within the team was in jeopardy:

“There’s nothing [Russell] needs to do. He has been part of our program for about 10 years and has always performed to the expectations we’ve set. We haven’t given him a car to win world championships in the last three years, and that’s on us. But when the car has been good, he’s won races. You can see, even today in free practice, he’s always there. You know when he gets in the car, he’ll extract the best out of it.”

Should Russell and Verstappen Share a Team?

Wolff also entertained the idea of Russell sharing the team with Verstappen but noted the complexities such pairings often bring:

“I can imagine every lineup. I’ve had [Nico] Rosberg and [Lewis] Hamilton fighting for a world championship, so everything else afterward is easy. There are pros and cons to having two drivers fighting each other hard. We’ve seen examples where that worked and other examples where it didn’t. So for now, we’ll evaluate all options.”

While the speculation linking Verstappen to Mercedes will, no doubt, remain a talking point, Wolff appears committed to balancing the team’s long-term strategy with maintaining its current driver lineup. For now, the Verstappen-to-Mercedes chatter remains just that—speculation.

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