Wolff admits Mercedes-Verstappen hook up now a long shot

With Mercedes locking down George Russell and Kimi Antonelli through 2027, and Red Bull securing Max Verstappen on a fresh deal, Wolff is finally acknowledging the obvious: any union between Brackley and the four-time world champion is now a distant, speculative dream.

The obsession dates back to 2014, when Mercedes missed out on signing the teenage Dutchman because Red Bull could offer an immediate premier-class seat.

A decade later, Lewis Hamilton’s bombshell exit to Ferrari reignited Wolff’s ambitions. Yet, despite back-to-back years of exploratory dialogue, the alignment never materialized.

Now, with Mercedes prioritizing stability and young talent, Wolff concedes that the window for a short-term coup has closed. The situation, he admits, contrasts sharply with the frantic courting of previous months.

“Pretty early in the late spring it was clear that we would continue like we do,” Wolff explained.

“And we have an open and in a way most transparent relationship as we can have. So the situation, as you say, was very different to what it was last year, where both sides were exploring whether cooperation could happen or not.”

Instead of disrupting his current driver balance, Wolff chose continuity. Russell provides established leadership, while Antonelli represents the future—a pairing Wolff believes creates the ideal environment inside the garage.

“Pretty early we felt for us that being with George and Kimi was the right decision to continue – for various reasons, but it seems that the driver line-up is just the right positive dynamic,” Wolff commented.

“It allows Kimi to grow and for George to bring out his best game because he has a quick, young team-mate.”

Playing the Long Game

Verstappen’s decision to re-commit to Milton Keynes has come during a surprisingly turbulent spell, marking his first winless campaign since 2015.

Despite Red Bull’s temporary slump and Verstappen’s vocal critiques regarding F1’s future direction, Wolff was not surprised to see the champion stay put.

“No,” Wolff said when asked if Verstappen's extension caught him off guard. “The more regulations mature the more the teams will catch up. And even if Red Bull at the moment is on the back foot it is clear that, give it some time, they will shine.”

“They have had strong races this year, others that were not. But I have no doubt that going forward the usual suspects will be again fighting for wins and championships, whether it is Ferrari or McLaren or Red Bull or ourselves. So the decision’s in a way logic for me.”

For now, the Austrian executive is content to play the long game, recognizing that driver markets are cyclical and circumstances inevitably shift.

• Read also: Russell says Mercedes seat ‘never under threat’ by Verstappen

“Therefore it seemed pretty logic that Max would stay with Red Bull,” Wolff noted.

“Better the devil you know – that's a punchline! – and then wait what happens in two or three years, where contracts open up again and probably his options are not just one team but maybe three or four at a time. And wait who performs the best.”

Wolff hasn’t completely severed the thread, but for the foreseeable future, Verstappen remains the enemy, not the savior.

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