Max Verstappen has landed a blow to Toto Wolff’s hopes of prising the Dutchman to Mercedes, citing that his team “does not have the fastest car at the moment”.
Verstappen’s dominance with Red Bull has continued into the current season, but rumours about him departing the team have been prevalent during recent months.
Despite Red Bull boss Christian Horner being cleared from allegations of inappropriate behaviour, Max’s father, Jos, stated his presence could “tear apart” the team.
Wolff has been observing the unfolding situation from the outside and has admitted Verstappen is his “number one” choice to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamiton.
While Verstappen insists the tension that emanated from their 2021 title fight is water under the bridge, he has dampened talk regarding a possible Mercedes switch.
As Red Bull’s status as F1’s pre-eminent force remains, Mercedes has experienced correlation issues with its revamped W15 car and sits fourth in the championship.
“He can’t do anything else. I understand why he does it,” Verstappen told De Limburger when asked about Wolff’s public pursuit of his signature for 2025.
“You can’t ignore me. In the past, even before Red Bull, we had discussions with Mercedes.
“Then they said: you have to do this and that to become successful. I think I have now shown how it should be done.
“They want me in that car, I understand that. Look: a few years ago there was of course a little more tension between us and Mercedes…”
“But that can all be forgiven and forgotten. That’s true on both sides. But that doesn’t mean I think I should be driving somewhere else right now.
“In addition, Mercedes does not have the fastest car at the moment. That really is the Red Bull.”
Verstappen retains a contract with Red Bull through 2028, but his team-mate for next season is undecided with Sergio Perez’s current deal to expire at the end of 2024.
Fernando Alonso had been touted as a possible alternative to assemble a blockbuster line-up with Verstappen, but the Spaniard renewed with Aston Martin last week.
With Perez the favourite to pen an extension and remain with Red Bull, Verstappen has denied that he interfered to avoid Alonso being signed up to slot alongside him.
“It doesn’t matter to me who’s next to me, I also told that to the team,” Verstappen claimed. “I will always believe in myself and in my opinion I am the best out of everyone.”
“But if you ask me, I would find it odd to hire a driver that’s 42 years old. Red Bull have always had the tradition of training young drivers themselves.
“The signing of Sergio Perez already differentiates from that tradition, and especially now with a driver that’s 42.”
“I can get along with Fernando very well, that’s not the issue, but I am also looking at the future of the team. Ultimately, it is up to them (Red Bull) to determine who drives where.”
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