© Sulay Kelly for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Toto Wolff says if he was Max Verstappen, he “would stay at Red Bull for 2025, but I’m not Max” and adds the RB20 is currently “the quickest car”, but “there are other factors”.
Ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Toto Wolff decided to poke at Red Bull, by basically suggesting Max Verstappen has reasons to get out of his contract early, to possibly join Mercedes.
“There’s so many factors that play a role for a driver joining,” the Austrian said.
“Clearly when you look at it from the most rational point of view you can say well, that’s the quickest car in the hands of the quickest driver.
“But I don’t think that this is the only reason you stay where you are. I think, let’s say, for simple minds that might be the only reason why you stay in a car and that’s it.
“Maybe there is more depth to other people who consider other factors too and I think Max has depth.
“In that respect are we going to convince him? I don’t think it’s a matter of convincing. I think Max knows motor racing better than anyone and he will take decisions that he feels are good for him.
“And I think a few factors play a role, but he’s the one that’s going to trigger some more domino stones to fall afterwards. But everybody’s waiting for what he’s going to be doing.
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“If I was Max, I would stay at Red Bull for 2025, but I’m not Max. It is the quickest car, but there are other factors.”
Toto continued by saying he does not intend to persuade Verstappen to join Mercedes, but he does emphasize that the German team is in a good position for when new 2026 regulations kick in.
“I don’t think anyone can sell anything to Max, Jos and Raymond [Vermeulen, Max’s manager].
“[With] their combined understanding of motorsport, whether you sell well or not is not going to change anything.
“It is a question of where they feel the future is best for them, considering a lot of factors. We are in a very good position for 2026.
“We are ambitious with the targets we have set ourselves for the power unit, for the batteries, for the fuel, and I think if we are able to produce a decent chassis we are a good value proposition.
“But who knows,” Wolff concluded.
