Toto Wolff has openly been courting Red Bull’s Max Verstappen through 2024.
Toto Wolff has decided to stop pursuing Max Verstappen for Mercedes, emphasizing his commitment to his current drivers. Despite Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari for 2025, Verstappen was considered as a potential successor, but ultimately F2 protégé Kimi Antonelli was chosen for the vacant seat alongside George Russell. Wolff hinted that the door could still be open for Verstappen in 2026, with Mercedes focusing on excelling in the new power unit regulations. Verstappen confirmed staying with Red Bull for 2025, but his future beyond that remains uncertain. Wolff believes in prioritizing loyalty to the team and drivers, stating that exploring other opportunities should only be considered if things go drastically wrong. He views pursuing other options as detrimental to the existing relationships and values alignment with Verstappen in this regard.
