Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff addresses Verstappen rumors amid Russell contract talks

Mercedes Eyes Verstappen While Reassuring Russell Amid Contract Talks

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed the team is keeping tabs on four-time world champion Max Verstappen as a potential signing down the line. However, Wolff assured that speculation surrounding Verstappen’s future has no bearing on ongoing contract discussions with George Russell, who could be entering his final year with the Silver Arrows.

Reports began swirling on Thursday after Russell revealed that negotiations over his contract renewal for 2026 were seemingly being delayed, with Verstappen rumored to be on Mercedes’ radar. The 27-year-old Dutchman is currently under contract with Red Bull Racing until 2028, although Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko recently hinted at the existence of performance-related clauses that could allow Verstappen to depart earlier.

Wolff: "There Is No Delay in Russell's Contract Talks"

Addressing media speculation, Wolff was quick to downplay any suggestion that Russell’s future with the team is in jeopardy. Speaking to Sky Sports on Friday, he stated:

"First of all, there is no delay in George's contract situation because it’s been clear for a long time what our timings are. We've known each other for such a long time, so there's no such thing as a delay. But also, as a team principal responsible for the best car brand in the world, it is clear you’re exploring what a four-time world champion is going to do in the future. However, that’s something far down the line and has no effect on putting a signature on George's contract."

Wolff emphasized that Russell has been fully informed about Mercedes’ position on Verstappen and any potential interest in the Dutchman:

“What we are trying to do in the team is be transparent, as we always have been. You can choose to hold things under wraps, or you can do what we've done for the last 20 years and openly say, ‘This is the situation.’”

Verstappen’s Reserved Comments

Despite Verstappen being tied to Red Bull for another five years, speculation surrounding his next career move remains rampant. When asked about his 2026 driving plans at the Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen refused to entertain the topic, offering characteristically evasive answers:

"I don’t think we need to talk about that. I don’t even remember what I said last year, really. It’s not on my mind right now. I’m focused on driving well, pushing the performance, and focusing on next year.”

While Verstappen is keeping his cards close to his chest, Wolff acknowledged that the reigning champion’s future remains intriguing for Mercedes, though discussions are not yet advanced:

"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. We want to have those conversations behind closed doors, not in town halls. And we have two excellent drivers in our program who we are very happy with."

Confidence in Russell

Wolff also voiced his confidence in George Russell, who joined the team in 2022 and has shown flashes of brilliance despite the team’s struggle to deliver a consistently competitive car:

"George has been part of our program for 10 years or so. He’s always performed to the expectations we’ve set, and he’s continuing to do so. We haven’t given him a car capable of winning a world championship in the last three years, and that’s on us."

Russell has earned praise for his ability to maximize the performance of the car he’s given. In free practice at the Austrian Grand Prix, he again demonstrated his reliability and talent, leaving Wolff with no concerns about securing his long-term future.

A Russell-Verstappen Line-Up?

When asked about the possibility of pairing Russell and Verstappen in the same team, Wolff didn’t rule out the scenario:

"Well, I can imagine every line-up. I’ve had Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton fighting for a world championship, so everything else afterwards is easy. There are pros and cons of having two drivers fighting hard against each other. We’ve seen examples where that worked, and other examples where it didn’t."

While a Russell-Verstappen pairing remains a distant prospect, one thing is clear: Mercedes’ driver lineup for the future will be a closely watched storyline as the 2026 season approaches. For now, all eyes remain on the track as Russell and Verstappen battle on opposite sides of the paddock—one eyeing his current legacy, the other chasing his next championship dream.

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