Toto Wolff has confirmed that the team is no longer interested in pursuing Max Verstappen after FINALIZING…read more.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, has confirmed that the team is no longer pursuing Max Verstappen after finalizing its driver lineup for 2025. Wolff stated that with the lineup now set, it’s time for the team to stop “flirting” with the idea of Verstappen joining Mercedes and instead focus on supporting its current drivers.
Earlier in the year, Wolff had considered the possibility of signing Verstappen, especially after Lewis Hamilton announced he would leave at the end of 2024. Wolff believed Verstappen might be open to the move due to early-season controversies at Red Bull and uncertainty about the team’s future. However, talks with Verstappen’s camp didn’t progress, and Mercedes’ interest waned.
A major factor in this change of direction was the team’s growing confidence in its junior driver, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. After impressing during testing, Antonelli was confirmed as Hamilton’s replacement for 2025. He will team up with George Russell, who will stay at Mercedes, forming a promising driver duo that the team hopes will lead them to success.
Wolff explained the decision to stop pursuing Verstappen by comparing it to a relationship: “It’s like flirting outside whilst you’re trying to make your relationship work.” He emphasized that Mercedes is now fully committed to its drivers, with external options only considered if the internal situation changes. Wolff also acknowledged that Verstappen is focused on his own team, making further talks less relevant.
Although Red Bull has shown interest in Russell, whose contract ends in 2025, Wolff reassured that Russell remains a key part of Mercedes’ future plans. Wolff sees both Russell and Antonelli as crucial to Mercedes’ long-term success, and with the driver lineup settled, the team is now focused on nurturing Its talent.
