Source – Formula1.com
Max Verstappen’s departure from Mercedes in 2025 has been acknowledged by Toto Wolff, who nevertheless expressed interest in recruiting the Red Bull driver in 2026 after summer negotiations with the Dutchman’s team.
As the Formula 1 season resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has lifted the lid on the summer talks he had with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen regarding a potential 2025 seat at Mercedes. With Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari next year creating a significant vacancy at Mercedes, Wolff has been transparent about his interest in securing the reigning world champion’s services, courting Verstappen publicly throughout the first half of the season.
Wolff revealed that during the summer break, he engaged in discussions with Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, and his father, Jos Verstappen, exploring the possibility of bringing Max to Mercedes. The conversations were part of Wolff’s broader strategy to ensure that Mercedes remains competitive at the highest level, even as the team prepares for life after Hamilton.
“I thought all through the year that there was a window or that there was a possibility. It wasn’t zero,” Wolff disclosed to a group of Dutch reporters at Zandvoort. Despite the serious nature of these discussions, Wolff acknowledged that the path to securing Verstappen’s signature was fraught with challenges. Beyond the obvious performance considerations, interpersonal dynamics also played a crucial role in the decision-making process.
Wolff’s relationship with Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, has been longstanding, which added a layer of complexity to the negotiations. “By the way, I got on with Jos for all my life. But maybe because we’re a bit similar. And that’s why I thought the door was never completely closed,” Wolff explained, hinting at the personal rapport he shares with the Verstappen family.
However, despite the potential for a blockbuster move, both parties ultimately decided to remain committed to their current paths. Wolff admitted that while there was always a slim chance of Verstappen joining Mercedes—”What were the odds of that happening? Maybe they were 10 to one. Nine to one.”—the talks led to a mutual understanding that it was best to move forward with their respective plans. “I didn’t want to give up,” Wolff said, “but then we together came to the conclusion over the summer that we shouldn’t be waiting for something to happen before committing for 2025. Let’s just continue our job, Max at Red Bull and here at Mercedes, taking our own driver decisions.”
With this chapter closed, both Verstappen and Mercedes will now focus on their individual goals as the 2024 season unfolds. While the idea of Verstappen donning the silver of Mercedes may have tantalized fans and insiders alike, the Dutchman remains steadfast at Red Bull, and Wolff continues to navigate the future of Mercedes with an eye on the next generation of talent. The question of who will ultimately fill Hamilton’s seat remains, but one thing is certain: the sport’s landscape is set for a fascinating evolution in the coming seasons.
