Wolff says he didn't want to recruit Verstappen to Mercedes: "I don't flirt with others"

It was one of the soap operas of the year: following the surprise departure of Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari in 2025, announced in February, the question of his replacement at Mercedes quickly arose and with it, many candidates. Finally, this question found a definitive answer last Saturday, on the sidelines of the Italian Grand Prix, with the appointment of Andrea Kimi Antonelli alongside George Russell.

The German team will trust the 18-year-old Italian and his academy, instead of signing a driver from another team. Besides "AKA", other names were linked to the second Mercedes seat earlier in the year: Carlos Sainz, obviously, Esteban Ocon or… Max VerstappenThe situation of the Dutchman, contractually bound to Red Bull until 2028, had become unclear at the start of the season, notably because of the Horner affair and the multiple sensational exits of his father, Jos Verstappen.

"I have not had any discussions with any driver" Wolff says

It was no secret that Toto wolff had the ambition to attract the triple world champion into his nets, he who had missed out on Max Verstappen at the beginning of his motorsport career before Red Bull decided to take him into its fold. A signing of the Dutchman with the Silver Arrows would have represented a huge spoil of war for Mercedes and a (personal) revenge for the Austrian leader. And yet: Toto Wolff assures that no serious discussions have been established between the two parties for a recruitment in 2025.

"What I liked about my relationship with them [Verstappen's team] is that it's very direct. I don't flirt with the others.", says Mercedes Team Principal… Well then: it wasn’t him who, last April, made no secret of placing Max Verstappen as his number 1 choice to replace Lewis Hamilton ? Or, last March, he said it “would go above and beyond” to secure his services ?

"I've always said it, I may have been taken aback by the situation [of Hamilton's departure], but I had no discussions with any driver while I gave everything to the team to make it succeed., assures Toto Wolff. That's why all our attention in the team is focused on George and Kimi, and that's what I said as well. There's no discussion, there's no second thought about what we're doing in 2026, because now it's about 2024 and 2025. If there's any 'flirting' from outside, then we'll know about it at the same time. When we have these kinds of discussions, I've always been very open."

Obviously, now that everything is in place for 2025 with Russell and Antonelli, it is surely easy for Toto Wolff to deny the possible discussions and the many speeches to attract the Verstappen clan. Everyone will be free to believe or not the claims of the Austrian leader, but he now seems determined to work with his two drivers in the long term... well, if Max Verstappen does not make himself available on the market next year!

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