© Sebastian Kawka for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix ltd.
Toto Wolff says he held talks with Max Verstappen’s team during the summer break regarding his possible move to Mercedes. Max gives his response.
Ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff revealed he held talks with Max Verstappen’s camp during the summer break, and they decided together that Max will not join the team in 2025.
“I thought all through the year that there was a window or that there was a possibility – it wasn’t zero,” the Austrian said.
“What were the odds of that happening? Maybe they were 10 to one, 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.”
If you like SilverArrows.Net, consider supporting us by buying us a coffee!
Toto then revealed the team has already made the decision on who will drive their other car in 2025.
“What I like with Max, Raymond and Jos is that we talk straight. 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.
“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,” Wolff concluded.
When Max was asked if the meeting with Mercedes did indeed take place, he just asked: “Which meeting?”
When asked if he participated in the talks himself, or if it was just down to his team, the Dutch driver said: “I don’t remember.”
He did, however, say that he has no problems with Toto talking publicly about it.
“I mean, everyone can say what they want. And I get on very well with Toto. I think he’s very open about what’s happening within his team, right? Also, I think with the driver line-up and stuff.
“So there’s nothing wrong with that. And at the same time, also, I just focus on my job. There’s a lot to do anyway.
“So, yeah, we just focus on that,” Verstappen concluded.
