Ralf Schumacher reveals why Toto Wolff is now the reason Max Verstappen wouldn’t consider Mercedes

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was heavily linked with joining Mercedes during the 2025 Formula 1 season, but a move never transpired.

Mercedes drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli were left having to wait until beyond the summer break to see whether they would be retained for the 2026 season.

Team principal Toto Wolff did eventually commit to his two drivers, but only after Max Verstappen made his feelings clear about his Red Bull future.

Verstappen had an exit clause in his contract that could have been activated halfway through the season if he was outside of the top three in the championship.

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That didn’t transpire, but Verstappen has an even stricter clause in 2026 where if he’s not in the top two of the standings, he could move on.

Ralf Schumacher has been looking at Verstappen’s future and believes that a move to Mercedes might not be out of the question.

He thinks that working alongside Wolff seems increasingly unlikely, and also rules out a potential move to Aston Martin.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Ralf Schumacher rules out Max Verstappen joining Toto Wolff at Mercedes

Schumacher was speaking about Verstappen on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast. He explained:  “I think that would be a concern for him if, for whatever reason, the car wasn’t working properly.

“On the other hand, what are the alternatives? I still can’t see Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff working well together.

“Somehow, I don’t know why, but they just don’t seem to fit. I think a team like that would obviously do everything for Max Verstappen if they had the opportunity to do so.

“The same goes for Aston Martin, but I would say that’s partly down to Helmut, and I have to say that Max Verstappen felt extremely comfortable towards the end of last year, and you really get the feeling that they have become a unit.

“That’s why I wouldn’t question it at all, and where else does he have something like that?

“And I mean, the team is basically his, you have to say that.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Mercedes F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Max Verstappen seems happier than ever at Red Bull ahead of driver market chaos

Verstappen missed out on his first championship since 2020 last season, being beaten by just two points by the time the chequered flag flew in Abu Dhabi.

However, Verstappen was overwhelmingly positive at the end of the race, suggesting a change in his mindset going into 2026.

Verstappen appears keen to see out his Red Bull contract, although that’s easy to say before he’s seen how the RB22 compares to its rivals.

If Schumacher is correct and Mercedes isn’t an option for Verstappen, then it would be interesting to see where he might end up if Red Bull do underperform.

Ferrari have previously been linked with Verstappen, but there seems to be even less confidence in the Scuderia being a leading team in 2026 based on last season.

For team principal Laurent Mekies, producing a car that satisfies Verstappen is his number one aim.

If he can keep the four-time world champion happy, then there’s no reason why Red Bull can’t be a leading figure in the paddock once again under the upcoming regulation changes.