JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Mercedes Formula One boss Toto Wolff says there have been no conversations with Max Verstappen about a potential move from Red Bull for 2026.
Four-time world champion Verstappen, 27, is under contract at Red Bull through to 2028, but the team’s car struggles in the early part of this season have led to fresh scrutiny over his future.
Advertisement
Mercedes has previously been linked with a move for Verstappen, and informal talks took place between Wolff and the Dutchman’s representatives last summer before both parties agreed not to seriously pursue a deal.
But speaking on Friday in Jeddah ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Wolff said no discussions had taken place with Verstappen over a potential move for next season, and stressed his faith in the existing line-up of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for the future.
“We didn’t have any conversations,” Wolff told The Athletic in an interview. “At the moment, where it is with George and Kimi, there’s no doubt to question that set up for the future, as it goes.”
The question marks over Verstappen’s place at Red Bull came after the team’s adviser, Helmut Marko, admitted after the race in Bahrain that “the concern is great” over Verstappen’s future amid its current car struggles.
In an appearance on Sky Sports on Friday in Jeddah, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner dismissed the speculation as “noise.”
Asked if Verstappen would be in the Red Bull car for next year’s Australia season-opener, Horner replied: “Yeah, absolutely.”
Wolff told The Athletic that he and Verstappen did not have conversations . (FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Wolff said at the Australia season-opener that Verstappen was not on his radar for a potential move, and that the team’s focus was on Russell and Antonelli.
Antonelli, 18, stepped up to F1 this year as a rookie, while Russell, 27, has raced for Mercedes since 2022. Both are products of its young driver academy.
Russell is out of contract at the end of the year, but he has produced some excellent performances to score three podiums in the first four races. The results leave him just six points behind Verstappen in the standings, stepping up to lead the team following Lewis Hamilton’s exit for Ferrari.
Wolff said that Russell was “in his prime, or at the beginning of his prime, clearly the senior driver here in the team that delivers, that performs, that says the right things. And (he) has taken over that role from Lewis.”
Advertisement
Those performances have not prompted Wolff or Russell to look at bringing contract extension talks forward from their planned start date of the summer months, with both parties remaining relaxed about the outlook.
“We will pick those talks up once we’re in the European season, there’s no stress,” Wolff said.
“He’s performing to the highest levels, as we have hoped and expected. He’s delivering, there’s no doubt about that. There’s not more you could demand from that. We have this summer window. We have no reason to challenge or question anything as it is now.”
James Vowles, the current Williams team principal who served as Mercedes’ motorsport strategy director before taking up his existing role at the start of 2023, told reporters on Friday in Jeddah he did not think Mercedes should consider a move for Verstappen.
Vowles said that Verstappen “comes with a lot of downsides as well,” adding: “I think what Mercedes does have is a great culture with two drivers that are delivering near to the peak of the car, and with one (Antonelli) that is on the way up. “So personally, I don’t think that’s the place for him.”
Another team that has been linked with a potential move for Verstappen if he were to leave Red Bull is Aston Martin, which is bankrolled by billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll and categorically denied a report in January that it was planning a big-money swoop for Verstappen.
Speaking in a news conference on Friday, Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell noted that it had two drivers, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, “signed for the next two years. That means I can just focus on improving the business and the art of making a fast race car.”
Asked if that meant there was no room for Verstappen in 2026, Cowell said: “I’m saying that my head’s full of improving the company so that we can make a fast race car for Lance and Fernando.”
(ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Barcelona vs Real Madrid live updates: El Clasico Copa del Rey final time, team news and predictions
What happened?Spanish referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea cried during a news conference on Friday as he detailed the impact criticism from Real Madrid’s in-house television channel and other outlets has had on him and his family.De Burgos Bengoetxea, the referee for today's game, became visibly emotional as he described an occasion where his son had returned home from school in tears because classmates had called the 39-year-old official a “thief”.Is this type of news conference normal?While it is uncommon for referees in England, for example, to ever speak to the media, in Spain, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) has held this type of news conference ahead of the Copa del Rey final for the last few years to encourage openness and transparency.How have Madrid reacted?Madrid have not commented publicly following the news conference but club sources, speaking on the condition […]
Shedeur Sanders victim of prank phone call during wait to be drafted: ‘Why get mad?’
Shedeur Sanders was the victim of a prank call Friday during his wait to be drafted by an NFL team. That wait has now extended to over two days and three rounds for a player who had expectations of being selected on Day 1 of the NFL Draft.“This is Mickey Loomis here, (general manager) of the Saints. It’s been a long wait, man. We’re gonna take you with our next pick right here, man,” the caller said, captured on video by Well Off Media, a YouTube channel run by Deion Sanders Jr., Shedeur’s older brother.Advertisement“Yes sir, let’s be legendary,” Sanders said.“But you’re gonna have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that,” the caller said before hanging up.Shedeur Sanders had a large party awaiting his selection in the first round Thursday night, but by Friday night, a much […]
Video aufgetaucht – Super-Riese spielt plötzlich Fußball
Wir haben personalisierte Videos für dich! Um mit Inhalten von Drittanbietern zu interagieren oder diese darzustellen, brauchen wir deine Zustimmung. externen Inhalt aktivieren Um eingebettete Inhalte anzuzeigen, ist Ihre jederzeit widerrufliche Einwilligung (über den Schalter oder über " Widerruf Tracking und Cookies " am Seitenende) zur Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten nötig. Dabei können Daten in Drittländer wie die USA übermittelt werden (Art. 49 Abs. 1 lit. a DSGVO). Mit dem Aktivieren des Inhalts stimmen Sie zu. Weitere Infos finden Sie hier.
Paul Skenes notches 9 strikeouts, leading Pirates to 3-0 win over Dodgers
Friday night's matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates featured an enticing clash between National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes and the reigning World Series champions.Would the Pirates' pitching sensation be humbled by one of the most formidable lineups in Major League Baseball? Or would one of the NL's top pitchers handcuff a Dodgers offense that hasn't yet performed to expectations?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis time around, Skenes prevailed with 6 1/3 scoreless innings in Pittsburgh's 3-0 victory. The right-hander notched nine strikeouts with no walks and five hits allowed.“I think that he’s one of the best in the game,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “Tonight, we really couldn’t muster much.”However, Roberts also felt that Dodgers hitters helped Skenes out by continuing a trend of chasing pitches out of their hitting zone."I think that it's hard to […]
Chelsea si poradila s Evertonem a dál drží naději na Ligu mistrů
Anglický reprezentant v brance Evertonu Pickford udržel ve své kariéře proti Chelsea sedmkrát čisté konto, tentokrát ale kapituloval po střele, kterou za hranicí šestnáctky vyslal Jackson. Pro senegalského útočníka to byl desátý ligový gól v sezoně a první od poloviny prosince. Pět minut před koncem se trefil podruhé, ale z ofsajdu. Nejlepší střelec londýnského klubu Palmer, který před rokem dal stejnému soupeři čtyři branky, se tentokrát ke střele vůbec nedostal.Trenér domácích Maresca sledoval zápas kvůli žlutým kartám jen z tribuny a s generálkou na čtvrteční semifinále Konferenční ligy ve Stockholmu mohl být spokojen. Jeho svěřenci si dál udržují šanci, že se po dvouleté přestávce vrátí do Ligy mistrů, kterou bude hrát pět zástupců kolébky fotbalu.Anglická fotbalová liga - 34. kolo:Chelsea - Everton 1:0 (27. Jackson)
Blue Jays-Yankees rained out, to play Sunday doubleheader
Jun 6, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees grounds crew pulls the tarp on the field as rain falls at the end of the fifth inning between the Yankees and the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The game between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees was postponed because of heavy rain on Saturday. The postponement was announced about 3 1/2 hours before Saturday's original first pitch and will be made up as part of a straight doubleheader on Sunday at Yankee Stadium. Max Fried was slated to oppose Toronto's Kevin Gausman on Saturday and will pitch Sunday. The other original pitching matchup for Sunday was Clarke Schmidt against Toronto's Chris Bassitt. The Blue Jays snapped a five-game losing streak by scoring three runs in the ninth inning off struggling closer Devin […]
Related
Barcelona vs Real Madrid live updates: El Clasico Copa del Rey final time, team news and predictions
What happened?Spanish referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea cried during a news conference on Friday as he detailed the impact criticism from Real Madrid’s in-house television channel and other outlets has had on him and his family.De Burgos Bengoetxea, the referee for today's game, became visibly emotional as he described an occasion where his son had returned home from school in tears because classmates had called the 39-year-old official a “thief”.Is this type of news conference normal?While it is uncommon for referees in England, for example, to ever speak to the media, in Spain, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) has held this type of news conference ahead of the Copa del Rey final for the last few years to encourage openness and transparency.How have Madrid reacted?Madrid have not commented publicly following the news conference but club sources, speaking on the condition […]
Shedeur Sanders victim of prank phone call during wait to be drafted: ‘Why get mad?’
Shedeur Sanders was the victim of a prank call Friday during his wait to be drafted by an NFL team. That wait has now extended to over two days and three rounds for a player who had expectations of being selected on Day 1 of the NFL Draft.“This is Mickey Loomis here, (general manager) of the Saints. It’s been a long wait, man. We’re gonna take you with our next pick right here, man,” the caller said, captured on video by Well Off Media, a YouTube channel run by Deion Sanders Jr., Shedeur’s older brother.Advertisement“Yes sir, let’s be legendary,” Sanders said.“But you’re gonna have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that,” the caller said before hanging up.Shedeur Sanders had a large party awaiting his selection in the first round Thursday night, but by Friday night, a much […]
Video aufgetaucht – Super-Riese spielt plötzlich Fußball
Wir haben personalisierte Videos für dich! Um mit Inhalten von Drittanbietern zu interagieren oder diese darzustellen, brauchen wir deine Zustimmung. externen Inhalt aktivieren Um eingebettete Inhalte anzuzeigen, ist Ihre jederzeit widerrufliche Einwilligung (über den Schalter oder über " Widerruf Tracking und Cookies " am Seitenende) zur Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten nötig. Dabei können Daten in Drittländer wie die USA übermittelt werden (Art. 49 Abs. 1 lit. a DSGVO). Mit dem Aktivieren des Inhalts stimmen Sie zu. Weitere Infos finden Sie hier.
Paul Skenes notches 9 strikeouts, leading Pirates to 3-0 win over Dodgers
Friday night's matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates featured an enticing clash between National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes and the reigning World Series champions.Would the Pirates' pitching sensation be humbled by one of the most formidable lineups in Major League Baseball? Or would one of the NL's top pitchers handcuff a Dodgers offense that hasn't yet performed to expectations?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis time around, Skenes prevailed with 6 1/3 scoreless innings in Pittsburgh's 3-0 victory. The right-hander notched nine strikeouts with no walks and five hits allowed.“I think that he’s one of the best in the game,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “Tonight, we really couldn’t muster much.”However, Roberts also felt that Dodgers hitters helped Skenes out by continuing a trend of chasing pitches out of their hitting zone."I think that it's hard to […]
Chelsea si poradila s Evertonem a dál drží naději na Ligu mistrů
Anglický reprezentant v brance Evertonu Pickford udržel ve své kariéře proti Chelsea sedmkrát čisté konto, tentokrát ale kapituloval po střele, kterou za hranicí šestnáctky vyslal Jackson. Pro senegalského útočníka to byl desátý ligový gól v sezoně a první od poloviny prosince. Pět minut před koncem se trefil podruhé, ale z ofsajdu. Nejlepší střelec londýnského klubu Palmer, který před rokem dal stejnému soupeři čtyři branky, se tentokrát ke střele vůbec nedostal.Trenér domácích Maresca sledoval zápas kvůli žlutým kartám jen z tribuny a s generálkou na čtvrteční semifinále Konferenční ligy ve Stockholmu mohl být spokojen. Jeho svěřenci si dál udržují šanci, že se po dvouleté přestávce vrátí do Ligy mistrů, kterou bude hrát pět zástupců kolébky fotbalu.Anglická fotbalová liga - 34. kolo:Chelsea - Everton 1:0 (27. Jackson)
Blue Jays-Yankees rained out, to play Sunday doubleheader
Jun 6, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees grounds crew pulls the tarp on the field as rain falls at the end of the fifth inning between the Yankees and the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The game between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees was postponed because of heavy rain on Saturday. The postponement was announced about 3 1/2 hours before Saturday's original first pitch and will be made up as part of a straight doubleheader on Sunday at Yankee Stadium. Max Fried was slated to oppose Toronto's Kevin Gausman on Saturday and will pitch Sunday. The other original pitching matchup for Sunday was Clarke Schmidt against Toronto's Chris Bassitt. The Blue Jays snapped a five-game losing streak by scoring three runs in the ninth inning off struggling closer Devin […]
Be the first to leave a comment