P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has reiterated that he has no plan to sign Max Verstappen in F1 as he and George Russell are “100 per cent aligned” on a new deal.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has confirmed that Max Verstappen will not be signed by the team in Formula 1, as there is a strong alignment with George Russell for a new deal. Russell’s current contract is set to end after the ongoing season, with Wolff emphasizing Mercedes’ intention to extend it alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Despite rumors of potentially enticing Verstappen from Red Bull due to Wolff’s interest, the team is likely to commit to Russell and Antonelli for the future. Negotiations with Russell are expected to continue until the Italian Grand Prix in September, with both parties clear and in agreement. Wolff indicated that it may take ‘another few months’ to finalize a deal with Russell as Mercedes focuses on W16 improvements, expressing frustration over recent challenges faced by the team at Imola.
