Max Verstappen shares one thing he really likes about Toto Wolff after Mercedes talks emerge

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Mercedes’ pursuit of reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is something that is likely to continue over the coming seasons.

The German manufacturer and their team boss Toto Wolff have made their ambitions to sign the Dutchman very clear over the course of the 2024 season.

He won’t be an immediate ticket to a world championship, however, he has developed to be arguably the best Formula 1 driver in the world.

Few would dispute that, given he has been in imperious form over the course of the last two and a half seasons, and is only starting to face a heavier challenge now that McLaren have caught up to Red Bull.

Max Verstappen shares admiration for Mercedes boss Toto Wolff

The significance of the chasing pack catching Red Bull should not be understated, with the team no longer holding a sizeable advantage over their rivals.

A Verstappen move to Mercedes, who have quietly been on the up this season and back to winning ways more recently with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, could be a wise move to guarantee a shot at yet more dominance in the future.

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton hits back at former Mercedes engineer over ‘lets himself down’ criticism

Speaking about his relationship with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff after qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix, he said: “I get on very well with Toto. I think he’s very open about what’s happening within his team, right? So, I think with the driver line-up and stuff.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, but at the same time also I just focus on my job, there’s a lot to do anyways so we just focus on that.”

Could Verstappen be tempted to join Mercedes in the future?

His current contract ties him down to Red Bull until 2028, but it is believed that he does have an escape route out of the team ahead of the 2026 regulation changes.

Otherwise, it’s likely that Mercedes would have to pay a mega fee to break him free of his current contractual commitments and sign him up for their operation.

The start of Formula 1’s new technical regulations in 2026 will be the tell-tale sign of which team is set for long-term success, but there’s no guarantee of that for either outfit.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen onboard showed Martin Brundle something ‘horrible’ at the Dutch Grand Prix

The likes of Aston Martin, McLaren and Ferrari have all planned well for the future too, meaning that there’s the potential for multiple teams to fight for the championship in a few years’ time.

Verstappen may want to explore a different avenue like Aston Martin if he wants to think outside the box, much like Lewis Hamilton did when he signed for Mercedes back in 2013 – when they were considered nothing but a midfield team.