Toto Wolff once again delivered a sharp remark during the media session with Dutch journalists at Zandvoort. The Mercedes boss joked that Max Verstappen is already driving for his team—not in Formula 1, but in endurance racing at the Nordschleife, including the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
The annual meeting has become a tradition full of surprises. Two years ago, Wolff almost confirmed Kimi Antonelli's F1 promotion before the official announcement. Last year, he openly discussed talks with Verstappen and even joked about AI-generated images. This time, he started with a smile: "Give me a moment to get into the groove, and I'll give you some punchlines!"
Wolff admitted that the chance of signing Verstappen this year is smaller than last season, especially after the Dutchman signed a new contract with Red Bull. However, he stressed that their paths have already crossed—through the joint GT3 programme developed over the past year and a half.
"Initially, we thought it was a long shot. Would Red Bull ever allow Max to drive a Mercedes GT3? They were open-minded, and we're thankful. The Red Bull Mercedes project is a success," Wolff said. He then joked that Mercedes gets Verstappen for the "real hero races"—endurance events at the Nordschleife, where blind corners and elevation changes challenge drivers, unlike modern circuits with gravel traps.
"Real racing is when you go through the trees, up and down over crests, and into blind corners—against the Dacia!" he laughed. Though just a joke, the comment highlights the warm relationship between two camps that often compete fiercely in F1.
With Verstappen contracted to Red Bull until 2028, a move to Mercedes seems closed for the next few seasons. Yet, the GT3 collaboration opens a new, unexpected chapter—and perhaps, who knows, it could be the seed for a larger partnership in the future.
As always, Wolff knows how to make the media room buzz. This season, he once again proves he's not just a strategy maestro in the garage, but also on the press conference podium.
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