Toto Wolff has confirmed that the team is no longer interested in pursuing Max Verstappen due…read more.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has confirmed that the team is no longer interested in pursuing Max Verstappen, following the resolution of their 2025 driver line-up. With their future driver pairing set, Wolff believes it’s time to stop “flirting” with Verstappen, as the team’s focus has shifted to supporting its own drivers.
Earlier this year, Wolff had engaged in discussions with Verstappen’s camp about the possibility of bringing the reigning world champion to Mercedes. This came after Lewis Hamilton announced his departure from the team at the end of the 2024 season. Wolff had hoped that early-season turbulence at Red Bull, including controversies surrounding team principal Christian Horner and doubts about Red Bull’s long-term competitiveness, might make Verstappen consider leaving the team. However, those talks did not progress, and Mercedes’ interest in Verstappen waned.
One key reason for the decline in interest was Mercedes’ growing confidence in junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian has shown great promise in testing this year, and Mercedes was sufficiently impressed to name him as Hamilton’s replacement for 2025. Antonelli will join George Russell, forming a line-up that Mercedes hopes will lead the team for years to come.
In an interview with Autosport, Wolff explained the decision to stop pursuing Verstappen, drawing an analogy to relationships: “It’s like flirting outside whilst you’re trying to make your relationship work. It doesn’t work, I’m not flirting outside.” He emphasized that Mercedes is committed to supporting its own drivers and would only consider external options if the situation within the team were to deteriorate significantly. Wolff also noted that Verstappen shares a similar philosophy, with both parties focused on giving their respective teams the maximum support.
While Antonelli represents a long-term investment for Mercedes, the future of George Russell has also been a topic of interest. Red Bull has expressed curiosity about Russell’s future, particularly as his contract with Mercedes expires at the end of 2025. There has been speculation that Russell could be a target for the Milton Keynes-based squad once his deal with Mercedes ends. However, Wolff made it clear that Russell remains a core part of Mercedes’ plans and that the team is not concerned about losing him to a rival.
Wolff sees Russell as a critical player in the team’s future, especially given his impressive track record. He drew parallels between Russell and Antonelli, noting that both drivers had a similar career trajectory through karting and junior formulas. Russell, who joined Mercedes as a junior driver, has been integral to the team’s success and will now face the challenge of competing alongside Antonelli, the team’s newest talent.
For Wolff, the arrival of Antonelli offers a fresh dynamic to the team, and he believes that Russell will thrive in this new environment. With both drivers seen as key long-term assets, Mercedes appears confident that it has a driver line-up capable of challenging for championships in the coming years.
By locking in their drivers, Mercedes is now fully focused on developing and supporting them, leaving behind any lingering interest in Verstappen.
.
