Toto Wolff isn’t shy about his desire to see Max Verstappen drive for Mercedes in the future, insisting it’s a relationship that “needs to happen at a certain stage”.
Lewis Hamilton’s stunning decision to leave Mercedes and move to Ferrari has set F1’s driver market ablaze.
Initially, Wolff expected to draw up a shortlist of candidates to fill the seven-time world champion’s seat that would include a few predictable names such as Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon or perhaps Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the Brackley squad’s highly rated F2 junior.
However, recent events at Red Bull during which battle lines were drawn between team boss Christian Horner and Helmut Marko allied with the Verstappen family have led to the prospect of an implosion at the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
It’s been widely reported, and even suggested by Verstappen himself, that Marko’s departure from Red Bull could trigger a contractual domino effect by which the three-time world champion could exercise his right to leave the team.
It’s an unlikely scenario according to many pundits, given Red Bull’s sustained strength.
But if there’s an inkling of a chance of Mercedes luring Verstappen into its stable, Wolff suggests he’s ready to employ every strategic maneuver and negotiation tactic at his disposal to make it happen.
“We have a slot free, the only one in the top teams – unless Max decides he goes. Then the slot is not going to be free with us anymore.”
Wolff expects to have clarity on Mercedes’ 2025 situation at some point over the summer, but whether Verstappen will be part of its future plans or not will likely depend on “what Max does”.
Toto Wolff in discussion with Jos Verstappen (Photo uncredited)
But as things stand today, Verstappen is very much at the top of the Austrian’s most recent list of candidates to succeed Hamilton.
“It’s the kind of relationship that needs to happen at a certain stage. But we don’t know when,” Wolff explained.
“I mean, you see what his performance levels are. But I wouldn’t want to discount the other ones too.
“I think we’ve got to look at ourselves and [ask] what is it we can do with this car. Then it becomes much easier, whoever drives the second car, it’s become much easier for George [Russell] because he has the potential of being a World Champion and so much more.
“It’s the team’s problem to solve really, rather than looking for a silver bullet with an amazing driver.”
Wolff candidly cited the other drivers that figure on his list, outside of Russell whose spot in the team is confirmed for 2024.
“No, [Russell’s] a bank. He’s having that seat, he’s been part of our junior programme for a long time. The reason why is because he’s great, so it’s about the second seat,” he added.
“I think it depends also on what Max does. Then we have a young kid that is very promising and I don’t want to put more extra pressure on him, but it looks like he can be one of the great ones.
“But we also don’t want to drown him by jumping so quickly in an F1 car at 17. So there are a few options that we play with him.
“Obviously, there’s Fernando [Alonso] who is very exciting, and Carlos [Sainz] is very good. So there are a few ones. I’m gonna make the play like a bride – difficult to get!”
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