P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes explored the possibility of signing Max Verstappen before cementing its current line-up for next year.
Toto Wolff has acknowledged his mistake and stated that he will learn from it after causing uncertainty about the futures of his drivers during negotiations. Mercedes has finally confirmed that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will be staying with the team next year. This confirmation comes after a period of speculation, especially when Max Verstappen was rumored to be considering a move to Mercedes. Verstappen ultimately decided to stay with Red Bull for the next season. Wolff admitted that there was no intentional flirtation during negotiations and emphasized that contracts are now signed, putting the past uncertainty behind them. Although Wolff has hinted at the possibility of Verstappen and Russell driving together, he reiterated his commitment to the Russell-Antonelli pairing for the future.
