P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Toto Wolff admits to making a “mistake” in flirting with Max Verstappen.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has admitted to making a “mistake” by flirting with Max Verstappen, expressing regret over the destabilizing speculation. Wolff had openly courted Verstappen amid rumors of a potential team switch, but Mercedes recently confirmed George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for the 2026 season. Russell had disclosed contract talks delay due to Verstappen’s pursuit, but the latter confirmed staying at Red Bull next season. Wolff acknowledged the need to learn from the situation and emphasized moving forward with the current driver lineup focused on stability. He downplayed future attempts to sign Verstappen, affirming satisfaction with Russell and Antonelli as the team’s direction.
