The Formula 1 driver market is famously unpredictable, but even within this context, Toto Wolff advising Max Verstappen against joining Mercedes was unexpected. Despite being under contract with Red Bull until 2028 and securing three world championships with them, Verstappen has been linked to potential moves away from the team.
Even though Verstappen has stated his commitment to Red Bull, Wolff has suggested that he should avoid switching to Mercedes if he seeks a new challenge, at least for now.
“We need two to crash at the front to win at the moment,” Wolff told the media before the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I think we still need to evaluate ourselves and ask: ‘What can we do to develop a car that can regularly compete with the leaders?’
“And I believe this is a time where we can position ourselves as an attractive destination for the best drivers, including Max.” “But we’re not there yet, so if I were in his position, I wouldn’t consider such a move just yet.”
Wolff’s remark was significant for a number of reasons. Most notably, Mercedes has an open seat for the next season due to Lewis Hamilton’s impending transfer to Ferrari.
Who better to fill that position than Verstappen, the standout driver of his era, as a successor to his main rival? Verstappen was the one who ended Hamilton’s and Mercedes’ remarkable era of dominance by winning his first world title in the controversial Abu Dhabi race in 2021.
Since then, Red Bull has become the team to beat, with Verstappen winning 17 of 22 races in 2022 and setting a new record with 19 victories last season, while Red Bull triumphed in 21 of the 22 races. Despite winning four of the first five races this season, Verstappen’s supremacy has faced challenges recently.
Mercedes has secured victories in the last two races, with George Russell winning in Austria and Hamilton clinching a win at Silverstone. McLaren has also closed the gap, with Lando Norris securing a win in Miami and finishing second behind Verstappen in three of the next four races.
The two drivers then collided at the Austrian Grand Prix following a thrilling battle. Earlier in the season, Wolff had shown interest in bringing Verstappen on board as Hamilton’s replacement if the Dutchman decided to leave Red Bull.
“I’d love to have him,” Wolff stated.
“But first, we need to sort out our car situation. We owe it to our drivers, George [Russell] and Lewis [Hamilton], to enhance the car and provide them with competitive equipment before we start planning for the future.”
Wolff’s comments this week are likely to be a relief for Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who is eager to keep his star driver.
“He [Verstappen] is a vital part of the team, he enjoys being here, and he has a fantastic support team. We are aware of what the future holds,” Horner said to reporters at the Austrian Grand Prix last month.
“There’s been a lot of speculation about him moving to another team, and sometimes it feels like a distraction tactic.”
Horner has been embroiled in a tense power struggle with Verstappen’s father, Jos, after a sexting scandal earlier this season. Hundreds of alleged texts sent to a female employee were leaked in an email to the media, Formula 1 teams, and executives.
This incident has further strained the relationship between Verstappen Sr. and Horner, with Jos calling for Horner’s resignation. Although Horner has consistently denied the allegations and was cleared of any coercive behavior by an internal investigation, his relationship with Verstappen’s father remains fraught.
The Dutchman has consistently tried to defuse the tension between the two, recently stressing his “very happy” status at Red Bull and clarifying that leaving the Milton Keynes-based team is not on his agenda.
“I have a long contract with the team, and I’m very content where I am,” he said last month. “As I’ve mentioned before, we’re already looking ahead to next year with plans to enhance the car, which should indicate my future plans.”
Despite McLaren and Mercedes closing the gap with Red Bull, Verstappen has increased his lead in the drivers’ standings, now leading Norris by 84 points and Leclerc by 105 points. In the constructors’ standings, Red Bull has a 71-point lead over Ferrari, with McLaren trailing by an additional seven points.
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