The prospect of seeing Max Verstappen racing for Mercedes in Formula 1 has long been a topic of intrigue. In his annual media session with Dutch journalists at Zandvoort, Toto Wolff was once again asked about it—but this time, the door looks closed, though he leaves it slightly ajar.
Had Mercedes beaten Red Bull to secure Verstappen's future back in 2014, F1 history might have unfolded very differently. Then a Formula 3 rookie, Verstappen was winning races but had his sights set on an immediate world championship debut—something only Red Bull could offer through its second team.
Since then, Mercedes and Verstappen have been rivals. Two years ago, Wolff revealed he had held talks with the then-three-time champion. He was seeking a worthy replacement for Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton and had already targeted Kimi Antonelli, but he wouldn't have passed on Verstappen if there was any chance.
"Yes, it is. Somehow I have that feeling. But I don't know when that could be. Whether it's '26, whether it's three years later, I don't know yet," Wolff told Motorsport.com. A year later, he sounded out Verstappen again, but the Red Bull driver reaffirmed his loyalty to the Milton Keynes team.
Now, with Mercedes extending George Russell and Antonelli through 2027, and Red Bull announcing a new deal for Verstappen ahead of his home race, Wolff admits he doesn't see a near-term move. "We felt that staying with George and Kimi was the right decision. It allows Kimi to grow and George to lead," he said.
Still, Wolff doesn't rule out the future entirely. "Could that mean our paths will never cross because the timings are wrong? That can happen. But there's a 50% chance we race together at some stage if it's right for both sides," he mused. With Verstappen under contract until 2028, that chance may have to wait.
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