Craig Slater reveals the real reason behind Toto Wolff’s F1 paddock meeting with Jos Verstappen

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Jos Verstappen and Toto Wolff were spotted in conversation outside of Mercedes’ hospitality building in the Canadian Grand Prix paddock on Thursday afternoon, and journalist Craig Slater has revealed the real intent behind the talks.

The meeting further rekindled rumours of Toto Wolff pursuing the possible signing of Max Verstappen for Mercedes, amid a swathe of speculation over the four-time world champion’s future at Red Bull.

Verstappen has been on the Austrian executive’s radar since before he had even stepped foot in an F1 car. Helmut Marko ended up beating Wolff to the punch, and the rest is history.

However, the turmoil Red Bull faced amid Christian Horner’s final days at the team cast Verstappen as a frustrated figure within the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

The Briton’s successor, Laurent Mekies, looked to have eased the 28-year-old’s qualms by giving him a car good enough to contend for the 2025 title, which ended up coming back to bite him upon the introduction of F1’s new ruleset this year.

• READ MORE: Max Verstappen would be reticent about joining Mercedes in 2027 if they keep George Russell

Jos Verstappen and Toto Wolff were ‘talking exclusively’ about Max Verstappen at the Nurburgring

During Sky Sports F1’s Paddock Uncut show from inside the Canadian Grand Prix paddock, journalist Craig Slater revealed the real reason for Verstappen Sr’s very public meeting with Wolff on Thursday afternoon.

The British journalist began by confirming that a meeting between the two figures took place, telling co-hosts Ted Kravitz and Bernie Collins, “There were interesting images today of Toto Wolff and Jos Verstappen very publicly sitting outside.

Should Red Bull use Ford’s offer to convince Max Verstappen to stay in 2027?

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“They were sitting outside Mercedes hospitality, setting us all thinking that this is a negotiation to try and bring Max to Mercedes. We know Toto is a long-time admirer, and Zak Brown said the other week, ‘If Verstappen goes anywhere, it will be to Mercedes’.”

Kravitz immediately played down speculation of potential negotiations, highlighting the not-so-secretive nature of the F1 paddock as a sub-optimal place for such talks.

“I’ve got a text,” Slater continued. “So this is from a senior Mercedes figure, actually, it’s the deputy team principal, Bradley Lord: ‘We were talking exclusively about Verstappen at Mercedes at the Nurburgring 24-hour race’.”

• READ MORE: Mercedes could now help rival series attract Max Verstappen amid ‘significant’ investment

Amid the Red Bull star’s race weekend at the Nurburgring last week, Lord noted that Mercedes were pleased about Verstappen’s entry with the German manufacturer, but asserted that it does not affect a potential switch to the Silver Arrows in F1.

On top of that, Ford have been trying to lure Verstappen back into a happier place at Red Bull by offering him a seat in the American automotive giant’s Hypercar entry in the World Endurance Championship.

The new programme is launching in 2027, and could potentially offer Verstappen a shot at glory in a future edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race that the Dutchman has previously expressed interest in.