George Russell let slip Mercedes’ ongoing talks with Max Verstappen a day earlier than Toto Wolff confirmed his contact, although Purple Bull bosses Helmut Marko and Christian Horner appear unmoved
Purple Bull bosses have performed down the probabilities of Max Verstappen quitting for rivals Mercedes. It was confirmed this week that the Silver Arrows stay in talks with the four-time Components 1 champion, with driver George Russell first citing the topic.
On Thursday, media day earlier than the Austrian Grand Prix, the Brit stated that “conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing” at Mercedes. And, a day later, Mercedes workforce principal Toto Wolff confirmed that he has remained involved with the Dutchman over a possible swap.
Not that bosses at Purple Bull appear to be too involved. Driver improvement chief Helmut Marko, who has an in depth relationship with Verstappen, responded to the claims by merely stating: “We won’t truly take this significantly. Russell simply talks an excessive amount of.”
And workforce principal Christian Horner additionally sounded assured as he advised Dutch tv: “They’re simply rumours. We all know very effectively the place we stand with Max, and the place we stand contractually with Max. So sure, the remaining is simply plenty of noise at this level.”
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Mercedes have a robust driver line-up comprising of Russell, who has began the 2025 season with spectacular consistency and secured his first win of the 12 months final trip in Montreal, and teenager Kimi Antonelli who the Silver Arrows hope can change into the following massive celebrity of F1.
Each are out of contract on the finish of this season, which has helped to gas the hypothesis that Mercedes may persuade Verstappen to make the swap. However whereas Wolff stated he has remained in contact with the Dutchman’s camp, he made it clear that’s stays much more doubtless that his present drivers will nonetheless be of their seats in 2026.
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He stated: “There is no such thing as a delay in George’s contract negotiations as a result of it has been clear for a very long time what our timings have been and we have identified one another for such a very long time, so there is no such thing as a such factor as a delay.
“However as a workforce principal for the perfect automotive model on the planet, it’s clear that you just’re exploring what a four-time world champion goes to do sooner or later. That could possibly be lengthy into the longer term, however it has no impact on placing our signature on George’s contract.”
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Concerning the character of any conversations he has had with Verstappen a couple of potential future with Mercedes, Wolff added: “It is also a long-term perspective and to grasp what the framework he’s working on, not more than this.”
And he was clear in his response when requested particularly by Sky Sports activities if he felt it was extra doubtless that Mercedes will discipline Russell alongside Antonelli, reasonably than Verstappen, in 2026. “Sure,” was his quick reply.
