Toto Wolff has made it clear who he needs to drive for Mercedes subsequent yr – and it received’t be Max Verstappen.
The Mercedes crew principal has thrown his religion behind present duo George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli regardless of a wave of hypothesis linking him with Verstappen.
Russell stays with no signed contract for 2026 and Wolff has hinted at his curiosity in Purple Bull driver Verstappen.
However forward of this weekend’s F1 Belgian Grand Prix, Wolff has set the document straight about who he expects to drive for Mercedes subsequent yr.
“Discussions have been happening during the last weeks and months. So they’re all updated,” Wolff informed Austrian broadcaster ORF.
“The course of journey is unquestionably that we need to proceed with George and Kimi. That’s the absolute precedence
“However you possibly can’t look previous somebody like Max and the plans he has for the longer term.
“We did that, however I don’t suppose there can be any large surprises.”
Reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen now seems likelier than ever to remain at Purple Bull in 2026.
He’s contracted till the top of 2028 however the presence of a contractual escape clause had bought the F1 paddock speaking.
The shortage of competitiveness from Purple Bull’s RB21 in comparison with the McLaren has additionally prompted Verstappen to look elsewhere.
He at present sits third within the F1 standings behind Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, his hopes of a fifth drivers’ title in a row trying slim.
Toto Wolff and Max Verstappen secret Sardinia talks?
Toto Wolff
F1 followers thought they’d outsmarted Wolff and Verstappen by monitoring their personal jets to the identical location.
Ralf Schumacher additionally stirred the pot by sharing a hearsay that the Mercedes boss was assembly the Purple Bull driver on the vacation island of Sardinia.
Wolff reacted: “What’s new is that persons are doing photograph collages with aeroplanes! We’ve by no means had that earlier than.
“However for those who spend your holidays shut to one another, it doesn’t imply that you will work collectively in Method 1.
“We now have at all times gotten alongside nicely and, by likelihood, we wish to spend our holidays on the similar locations.”
Russell at all times insisted it was unlikely that he would driving for anyone apart from Mercedes in 2026.
Though he has nonetheless not put pen to paper on a contemporary deal, it now feels imminent after Wolff’s dedication to him.
Subsequent yr the F1 2026 laws will kick in, providing an opportunity for each crew within the sport to construct a dominant period with new automobiles.
That implies that in 2027, after one yr of every crew displaying what they will do, the chase to signal Verstappen may restart.
