P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has landed a blow to Toto Wolff’s hopes of prising the Dutchman to Mercedes, citing that his team
Max Verstappen continues to dominate with Red Bull this season, despite rumors swirling about his potential departure from the team. Although Red Bull’s Christian Horner was cleared of inappropriate behavior allegations, Max’s father, Jos, expressed concerns that his presence could cause conflict within the team. Toto Wolff openly acknowledges Verstappen as his top choice to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, while Verstappen has dismissed talks of switching teams and insists that any past tensions with Mercedes can be forgiven and forgotten. With Red Bull leading F1, Mercedes is facing challenges with their W15 car and currently holds the fourth spot in the championship standings. Verstappen reaffirms his commitment to Red Bull through 2028, and while Sergio Perez is likely to remain his teammate, he dismisses concerns about Fernando Alonso potentially joining the team, emphasizing Red Bull’s tradition of fostering young talent. Ultimately, Verstappen believes in his own abilities and trusts in Red Bull’s decisions regarding their driver line-up for the future.
