27/06/2025 16:20
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff refused to deny that talks with
Max Verstappen are taking place following George Russell's
revelation ahead of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix. The Silver
Arrows is yet to confirm its driver pairing for next year, with
both Russell and Kimi Antonelli out of contract at the end of this
season. With Antonelli seen as the long-term future of Mercedes, it
is highly unlikely he would be jettisoned, applying extra pressure
on Russell. Interest in Verstappen from Wolff has been speculated
for several months; however, Russell revealed on media day at the
Red Bull Ring that his contract conversations with Mercedes are
being delayed by "ongoing" talks with the four-time world champion.
In addition, the Red Bull driver refused to commit his future to
the Milton Keynes-based outfit , further increasing speculation of
talks elsewhere. When asked directly in the team principals' press
conference by RacingNews365 for his thoughts on Russell's comment
and if Verstappen is under serious consideration, Wolff replied:
"Whether I like it or not, I like what George says. "I'm always
supportive of the driver, and there is no such thing as saying
things I wouldn't want him to say. "I think we are very
transparent in what we do, what we plan, and we've been like that
since I was put in charge. So that's not the issue. And at the
moment, clearly, you need to explore what's happening in the
future. "But it doesn't change anything of what I have said
before, about George, about Kimi, about the line-up that I'm
extremely happy with having." Does Verstappen have a deadline? With
the summer break fast approaching, speculation over the remaining
seats on the grid for 2026 are intensifying. Wolff's decision over
who the Brackley-based outfit will field for the start of the new
power unit regulations will decide a significant part of the jigsaw
puzzle, as will Verstappen if he does depart Red Bull. Discussing
whether Verstappen has a deadline to confirm his desire to join
Mercedes, Wolff replied: "You make it sound like we are asking,
'When do you want to join and what are the terms?' "That's not at
all how it is and how it works. I want to just have the
conversations behind closed doors, not town halls. "And we have
two drivers who have been in our programme for a long time, drivers
that we are very perfectly happy to have, drivers who will do great
in the future of the team."
