Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has confirmed that he held discussions during F1’s summer break with Max Verstappen's management team over the possibility of the Red Bull driver joining the Brackley-based squad in 2025.
The talks materialized as a result of the disrupted environment that prevailed at Red Bull earlier this year amid a reported power struggle between team principal Christian Horner and Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.
Amidst the tensions, rumors circulated that Verstappen could leave Red Bull if certain conditions were met. Specifically, the Dutchman’s contract included a break clause that could be activated if Marko, a key figure in Verstappen's career and management within Red Bull, left the team.
However, this scenario was put to rest when Marko’s position at Red Bull was secured until 2026.
Despite this development, Wolff revealed that he still believed there was a "possibility" for Mercedes to lure Verstappen to the team as early as next season.
The Austrian thus engaged in discussions with Verstappen's father, Jos, and his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, to explore the opportunity of a potential move.
"I thought all through the year that there was a window or that there was a possibility. It wasn't zero," commented Wolff at Zandvoort on Friday.
"It's pretty bumpy ground there still, and not only for performance reasons, but also because of interpersonal issues that we're all aware.”
Wolff, who has a long-standing relationship with Jos Verstappen, believed that this connection kept the door slightly open for a possible move.
"By the way, I got on with Jos for all my life. But maybe because we're a bit similar. And that's why I thought the door was never completely closed,” he added.
However, after thorough discussions over the summer, both parties decided that it would be best for Verstappen to remain with Red Bull and for Mercedes to focus on their current driver lineup
"What were the odds of that happening? Maybe there were 10 to 1. Nine to one.
"Still, I didn't want to give up, but then we together came to the conclusion over the summer that we shouldn't be waiting for something to happen before committing for 2025, but let's just continue our job, Max at Red Bull and here at Mercedes taking our own driver decisions.
"And that was a kind of joint thought."
Wolff emphasized the straightforward nature of the conversations with Verstappen and his team.
"What I like with Max, Raymond and Jos is that we talk straight,” he said. “We don't need to push each other. We have been in this too long; we've taken the decision for drivers for next year. This is what our full effort is going into," he said.
While the immediate prospect of Verstappen joining Mercedes has been set aside, Wolff left the door open for future possibilities.
"Hopefully that's going to be the lineup for 2026 and beyond. But that doesn't close the door on Max being with us in '26 or beyond, because we want to still keep all the options open in the same way he does.
“So what I enjoyed in our conversations is there is never a hidden agenda."
“Somehow I have that feeling [that Mercedes and Verstappen's paths will cross]. But I don't know when that could be. Whether it's '26, whether it's three years later, I don't know yet."
Max Verstappen with Red Bull team boss Christian Horner and manager Raymond Vermeulen.
With Verstappen out of the frame, at least for next season, all signs point to Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli filling Lewis Hamilton’s seat in the Silver Arrows team in 2025.
"Soon, we will confirm who is in the second seat. And what I also said is that the two drivers that are in the car have our full support, 100%,” Wolff said.
"And therefore I'm entering the season in 2025 with two drivers that we will be giving all the opportunity to perform.
"And that's why I don't want to talk about the 2026 driver lineup at that stage because I want to make it work with George and Kimi."
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