Toto Wolff believes there is “very little probability” Max Verstappen will join Mercedes for the 2026 season.
Wolff was pressed yesterday about Mercedes’ mooted interest in signing Verstappen from Red Bull after George Russell — who is out of contract at Mercedes at the end of the year — said in an interview with Sky Sports it was “only normal” there would be interest from the team in the Dutchman.
Wolff spent much of the FIA news conference discussing Verstappen, saying “people talk” and he wanted to get an understanding of the market while planning for Mercedes’ future.
But when appearing on Sky Sports today after final practice, Wolff seemed to cool the links somewhat:
💬 “When you look at the situation we have, with Kimi (Antonelli) and George, we have a perfect line-up that we very much enjoy, that we believe is the future.
“At the same time, there is a four-time world champion that needs to decide what he’s going to do in the future. As a team principal, you need to see where that is going.
“But I give it a very little probability that this is going to happen.”
Asked if he meant ever or was referring just for next year, Wolff replied:
💬 “You don’t know what’s going to be in three or five years. That’s why you need to look at what is it that should be considered in the long-term.”
Verstappen is under contract at Red Bull through to 2028, but is understood to have exit clauses in his contract that could pave the way for a switch to Mercedes if desired.
His future has been a regular talking point this season as Red Bull’s struggle to match McLaren’s performance level has thrown his title defense into serious doubt.
Wolff said the existing Mercedes line-up of Antonelli and Russell was “what we want to be, and what we want to continue,” but that to plan for the long-term future, “you’ve got to understand what other people do.”
Russell is enjoying arguably his strongest start to an F1 season to date with Mercedes, scoring five podiums in the first 10 races, including one race win last time out in Canada.
Wolff added he’d been very impressed with Russell’s displays this season:
💬 “He’s doing a splendid job all throughout the year. We haven’t seen any mistakes. The pace was there. There is nothing to doubt in George.”
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Dave Parker dies at 74: Baseball Hall of Famer and seven-time All-Star played nearly two decades in the majors
Dave Parker, the seven-time All-Star and former National League MVP who was recently elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, has died at age 74, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Saturday. The Pirates also honored him before their Saturday home game against the New York Mets: Parker, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next month, spent parts of 19 seasons as a player in Major League Baseball. Eleven of those seasons came with the Pirates, who first drafted him in 1970 out of Courter High School in Cincinnati. Over those almost two decades in the majors, Parker tallied 2,712 hits; 339 home runs; 526 doubles; 1,493 RBI; 154 stolen bases, three Silver Sluggers, and a pair of batting titles. Nicknamed "Cobra" in part for his powerful throwing arm in right field, Parker was more than "just" one of the […]
Mundial de Clubes: Palmeiras bate Botafogo e é o primeiro classificado para as quartas de final
Paulinho comemora gol contra o Botafogo. (Foto: Cesar Greco/Palmeiras)O Mundial de Clubes já está afunilando, chegando às quartas de final, com partidas decisivas e muita emoção. Assim, ao fim dessa rodada de oitavas teremos apenas os oito melhores clubes do mundo se duelando rumo ao sonhado título. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Resultados das oitavas de final do Mundial de Clubes: 28/06 – Palmeiras 1 x 0 Botafogo 28/06 – Benfica x Chelsea 29/06 – PSG x Inter Miami 29/06 – Flamengo x Bayern 30/06 – Inter de Milão x Fluminense 30/06 – Manchester City x Al-Hilal 01/07 – Real Madrid x Juventus 01/07 – Borussia Dortmund x Monterrey Palmeiras nas quartas de final do Mundial de Clubes Em um confronto recheado de rivalidade contra o Botafogo, o Palmeiras venceu por 1 a 0 com gol de Paulinho e se classificou para as […]
Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. start time: Live stream, PPV price, undercard, where to watch, TV channel
Getty Images One of boxing's top superstars, for better or worse, returns to the ring on Saturday when Jake Paul takes on former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a cruiserweight fight. Paul is looking to continue building his credibility as a boxer by taking on Chavez, an experienced boxer, though well past his prime.Chavez held the WBC middleweight title from June 2011 to September 2012. The son of the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Chavez never lived up to his father's legacy and mixed drug test and weight issues with otherwise inconsistent in-ring results.Paul has made a career of fighting faded athletes, primarily from the world of mixed martial arts, but he is also coming off of a win over 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a fight that did big business but produced little action.Paul and Chavez share one […]
Shohei Ohtani completes 2 shutout innings against Royals, hits 101.7 mph in hardest pitch of his career
Shohei Ohtani completed two innings in his third start for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season during Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals.Ohtani got through the first inning in 14 pitches, eight of which were fastballs, including one that was clocked at 101.7 mph — the hardest of his career — that got Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino to hit into an inning-ending double play.The second frame saw a much more efficient Ohtani on the mound. He faced only three batters and threw 13 pitches — 12 of which were strikes — and kept the Royals off the bases.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOhtani was replaced in the third inning and finished with 27 pitches, 20 for strikes, one hit allowed, one walk and one strikeout. Jac Caglianone was the lone Royal to strikeout on a nasty slider.Ohtani also broke 100 mph three times.Dodgers […]
Mahomes fora da liderança e Travis Kelce surpreende: confira os maiores salários da NFL
Patrick Mahomes e Travis Kelce, estrelas da NFL. Foto: Reprodução/Kansas City ChiefsA lista dos maiores salários da NFL é dominada por quarterbacks, com nove atletas dessa posição ocupando o top-10. Melhor jogador da geração, o tricampeão Patrick Mahomes não está no topo e foi superado por Jared Goff, do Detroit Lions. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE A grande surpresa da lista é o tight end Travis Kelce, parceiro de Mahomes no Kansas City Chiefs. Ele é o único “não QB” do ranking e é o responsável por não permitir uma unanimidade; confira a lista com os valores anuais: Jared Goff (QB, Lions) – US$ 85,6 milhões Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs) – US$ 81 milhões Jordan Love (QB, Packers) – US$ 80,5 milhões Joe Burrow (QB, Bengals) – US$ 69,7 milhões Justin Herbert (QB, Chargers) – US$ 66,6 milhões Kirk Cousins (QB, Falcons) – […]
Palmeiras win battle of Brazilians club at Club World Cup, set up statement match with Europeans next
PHILADELPHIA -- Lincoln Financial Field may have been confused for being the site of a Copa Libertadores final as fans of Palmeiras and Botafogo unveiled tifos, beginning a war of noise to rival the players clashing on the pitch. Instead, it was the scene of the Club World Cup round of 16, following a group stage where Brazilian teams have been leading the charge in bringing passion on and off the pitch and showing that they are more than ready to compete with Europe's best.Following a quite physical match, only Palmeiras would be left standing in this competition, defeating Botafogo 1-0 thanks to Paulinho's goal in extra time. Flags were waved and tifos were unveiled as chants of "Palmeiras" and other songs rang out, and Botafogo keeper John Victor did all he could to protect his net, but eventually the pressure […]
Related
Dave Parker dies at 74: Baseball Hall of Famer and seven-time All-Star played nearly two decades in the majors
Dave Parker, the seven-time All-Star and former National League MVP who was recently elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, has died at age 74, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Saturday. The Pirates also honored him before their Saturday home game against the New York Mets: Parker, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next month, spent parts of 19 seasons as a player in Major League Baseball. Eleven of those seasons came with the Pirates, who first drafted him in 1970 out of Courter High School in Cincinnati. Over those almost two decades in the majors, Parker tallied 2,712 hits; 339 home runs; 526 doubles; 1,493 RBI; 154 stolen bases, three Silver Sluggers, and a pair of batting titles. Nicknamed "Cobra" in part for his powerful throwing arm in right field, Parker was more than "just" one of the […]
Mundial de Clubes: Palmeiras bate Botafogo e é o primeiro classificado para as quartas de final
Paulinho comemora gol contra o Botafogo. (Foto: Cesar Greco/Palmeiras)O Mundial de Clubes já está afunilando, chegando às quartas de final, com partidas decisivas e muita emoção. Assim, ao fim dessa rodada de oitavas teremos apenas os oito melhores clubes do mundo se duelando rumo ao sonhado título. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Resultados das oitavas de final do Mundial de Clubes: 28/06 – Palmeiras 1 x 0 Botafogo 28/06 – Benfica x Chelsea 29/06 – PSG x Inter Miami 29/06 – Flamengo x Bayern 30/06 – Inter de Milão x Fluminense 30/06 – Manchester City x Al-Hilal 01/07 – Real Madrid x Juventus 01/07 – Borussia Dortmund x Monterrey Palmeiras nas quartas de final do Mundial de Clubes Em um confronto recheado de rivalidade contra o Botafogo, o Palmeiras venceu por 1 a 0 com gol de Paulinho e se classificou para as […]
Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. start time: Live stream, PPV price, undercard, where to watch, TV channel
Getty Images One of boxing's top superstars, for better or worse, returns to the ring on Saturday when Jake Paul takes on former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a cruiserweight fight. Paul is looking to continue building his credibility as a boxer by taking on Chavez, an experienced boxer, though well past his prime.Chavez held the WBC middleweight title from June 2011 to September 2012. The son of the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Chavez never lived up to his father's legacy and mixed drug test and weight issues with otherwise inconsistent in-ring results.Paul has made a career of fighting faded athletes, primarily from the world of mixed martial arts, but he is also coming off of a win over 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a fight that did big business but produced little action.Paul and Chavez share one […]
Shohei Ohtani completes 2 shutout innings against Royals, hits 101.7 mph in hardest pitch of his career
Shohei Ohtani completed two innings in his third start for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season during Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals.Ohtani got through the first inning in 14 pitches, eight of which were fastballs, including one that was clocked at 101.7 mph — the hardest of his career — that got Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino to hit into an inning-ending double play.The second frame saw a much more efficient Ohtani on the mound. He faced only three batters and threw 13 pitches — 12 of which were strikes — and kept the Royals off the bases.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOhtani was replaced in the third inning and finished with 27 pitches, 20 for strikes, one hit allowed, one walk and one strikeout. Jac Caglianone was the lone Royal to strikeout on a nasty slider.Ohtani also broke 100 mph three times.Dodgers […]
Mahomes fora da liderança e Travis Kelce surpreende: confira os maiores salários da NFL
Patrick Mahomes e Travis Kelce, estrelas da NFL. Foto: Reprodução/Kansas City ChiefsA lista dos maiores salários da NFL é dominada por quarterbacks, com nove atletas dessa posição ocupando o top-10. Melhor jogador da geração, o tricampeão Patrick Mahomes não está no topo e foi superado por Jared Goff, do Detroit Lions. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE A grande surpresa da lista é o tight end Travis Kelce, parceiro de Mahomes no Kansas City Chiefs. Ele é o único “não QB” do ranking e é o responsável por não permitir uma unanimidade; confira a lista com os valores anuais: Jared Goff (QB, Lions) – US$ 85,6 milhões Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs) – US$ 81 milhões Jordan Love (QB, Packers) – US$ 80,5 milhões Joe Burrow (QB, Bengals) – US$ 69,7 milhões Justin Herbert (QB, Chargers) – US$ 66,6 milhões Kirk Cousins (QB, Falcons) – […]
Palmeiras win battle of Brazilians club at Club World Cup, set up statement match with Europeans next
PHILADELPHIA -- Lincoln Financial Field may have been confused for being the site of a Copa Libertadores final as fans of Palmeiras and Botafogo unveiled tifos, beginning a war of noise to rival the players clashing on the pitch. Instead, it was the scene of the Club World Cup round of 16, following a group stage where Brazilian teams have been leading the charge in bringing passion on and off the pitch and showing that they are more than ready to compete with Europe's best.Following a quite physical match, only Palmeiras would be left standing in this competition, defeating Botafogo 1-0 thanks to Paulinho's goal in extra time. Flags were waved and tifos were unveiled as chants of "Palmeiras" and other songs rang out, and Botafogo keeper John Victor did all he could to protect his net, but eventually the pressure […]
Be the first to leave a comment