Max Verstappen has acknowledged that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has shown interest in signing him, although Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028.
Wolff’s interest in Verstappen became apparent after Lewis Hamilton announced he would be leaving Mercedes at the end of the year. Earlier this year, Verstappen’s future at Red Bull came under speculation when he voiced concerns about the potential departure of motorsport consultant Helmut Marko. However, Verstappen has since dismissed any notion of leaving Red Bull at the end of the year and remains unconcerned about Wolff’s pursuit.
“Everyone can say what they want,” Verstappen stated at the FIA press conference. “I get along very well with Toto. I believe he’s quite transparent about what’s going on within his team, including the driver lineup. So, there’s no issue there.
“Meanwhile, I’m just concentrating on my work. There’s a lot to do, so that’s where my focus lies.”
Mercedes had previously tried to sign Verstappen during his Formula 3 career, but he joined Red Bull’s junior team and quickly moved up to their F1 program. Mercedes’ current young talent, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, is expected to be announced as Hamilton’s replacement.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner emphasized that there was never any real chance Verstappen would join Mercedes next year.
“The situation, as we’ve stated throughout the year, is clear—we know our agreement with Max, and Max knows his agreement with us,” Horner told Sky. “He’s certainly not available to Mercedes for 2025; he never was.
“I’m sure whatever choices they make, they’ve considered carefully, and if they decide to give Antonelli the seat, they should be praised for taking a chance on a young talent.”
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