Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has indicated that he wants the team to become the most attractive option to Max Verstappen under Formula 1‘s new regulations in 2026.
The speculation regarding Verstappen’s whereabouts next season has been quelled since he communicated that he will remain at Red Bull before the summer break.
However, his announcement isn’t expected to mark a complete end to a long-running saga that began when Red Bull beat Mercedes to Verstappen’s services in 2014.
The turmoil behind the scenes at Red Bull in 2024 provoked Wolff to launch an ambitious plot to persuade the Dutchman to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.
But while he was unable to tempt Verstappen to part with Red Bull as he won a fourth consecutive Drivers’ title, Wolff has remained in touch with his camp since then.
That triggered renewed talks that ended with an identical outcome to 12 months ago, which Wolff claimed is mostly connected to Verstappen’s allegiance to Red Bull.
“Max will have his reasons why he’s staying at Red Bull. What he said is he owes them,” Wolff said at Zandvoort.
“And it’s not the first moment you can walk away when the team doesn’t perform.
“Beyond the contract. So I think things have fallen in place like they are today, and who knows what happens in the future.
“But the integrity that he has shown to his team and the integrity that I and the team have shown to our drivers, I think that’s important.”
Wolff has reiterated that George Russell, who disclosed the team’s latest discussions with Verstappen’s entourage, remained in the loop on developments at all times.
“That’s what I said to George,” the Austrian added.
“It is my obligation as a team principal here to explore what a four-time World Champion is going to do in the future and what his situation is.
“Any driver out there will say that Max, as it stands, is probably the best. That’s not a secret. And every team needs to go for the best driver.”
Mercedes has 50/50 chance of future Verstappen partnership
Wolff has recognised that there is a circumstance where the Mercedes and Verstappen timelines will never align to see a partnership between the parties materialise.
“Sometimes you can’t have the best at the moment, sometimes you need to wait for the time, and sometimes you need to develop the best,” he explained.
“And for me today, what we have is a very good combination, and let’s see what it is in two or three years. It may be different.
“It never came to the situation where it was like: ‘Okay, we are going to do this’. Neither on Max’s side, nor on my side. It was never that one dimension of ‘have we got a shot’?
“It was more: ‘Does that make sense from the Mercedes perspective? And does that make sense from the Verstappen perspective?’
“Could that mean our paths will never cross because the timings are wrong? Well, that can happen, yeah.”
But Wolff is hoping that the German marque will emerge as the benchmark side when the rules reset in 2026 to become the most enticing destination for Verstappen.
When it was proposed that Verstappen staying at Red Bull could aid Mercedes as the strongest team next year will possess a desirable seat, Wolff said: “Hopefully us.
“Then I only need to pay 10 per cent! And that’s exactly what I said to Raymond [Vermeulen, Verstappen’s manager].
“I think that for all of the best drivers money is not the essential objective. The essential objective is to have a car and a team that can make you win World Championships.
“And then comes the debate about the money. I’ve always been of the opinion that you need to pay a driver fairly, whatever that means, whoever the benchmark is.
“So, we’re always going to find a solution if the stars are aligned. Best team, best drivers. And then you find each other.”
READ MORE – Red Bull ‘not in any hurry’ to decide upon Max Verstappen’s 2026 F1 team-mate
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