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Toto Wolff is keeping very close tabs on Max Verstappen’s uncertain future at Red Bull beyond 2026, but the Mercedes boss is not quite ready to release George Russell yet.
Verstappen has proven to be a forbidden dream for Wolff for the past decade after Red Bull beat Mercedes to his signature as a youth. However, the four-time F1 champion has been a carrot on the end of a stick for Wolff in recent years, and he could now fall into his clutches.
While Red Bull have Verstappen tied down on paper through 2028, the Dutchman may earn the right to end his deal in 2026. It is said that Verstappen will have from August to October to trigger a release clause if he hits the summer break outside the top two in the standings.
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Toto Wolff wants George Russell to prove he can fight Kimi Antonelli, or Mercedes will target Max Verstappen
Wolff would be expected to put Mercedes in the hunt to sign Verstappen for 2027 if he does indeed leave Red Bull. Yet signing Verstappen could force Wolff to release Russell, as Andrea Kimi Antonelli is widely believed to be the most likely driver to stay on if either has to leave.
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Given Antonelli’s record-breaking start to the 2026 season, the pressure is now also growing on Russell to convince Wolff that Mercedes do not need to sign Verstappen. According to De Telegraaf, Wolff wants to see whether Russell can keep up with Antonelli in the F1 title fight.
With the possibility of Verstappen hitting the market hanging in the air, Wolff intends to use the ‘coming period’ to see how Russell responds to Antonelli opening a 43-point lead in the F1 drivers’ standings. If the Briton falls further behind, Mercedes can let him go this season.
Russell agreed to specific performance clauses when he signed a new contract for the 2026 season last October that offer Mercedes free rein to part ways this year if his performances fall short. Although, reliability issues and bad luck have played a big part in Russell’s deficit.
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It is ‘likely’ that Wolff has already ‘enquired’ into Verstappen’s possible availability for 2027, too, as he and McLaren CEO Zak Brown did in the early stage of 2025. Wolff confirmed that he spoke to Verstappen’s agent in 2025 when it was still possible that he could move teams.
Wolff has never made a secret of his desire to sign Verstappen since missing out to Red Bull on his signature a decade ago. Mercedes could not offer the Dutchman the same path to F1 that Red Bull did by placing him at Toro Rosso in 2015, yet Wolff’s interest has never waned.
Russell may now feel aggrieved if his early difficulties in 2026 open the door for Wolff to get Verstappen in a Mercedes next season. After suffering reliability issues in China and Canada, and losing out behind the safety car in Japan, Russell is desperate for his “luck” to change.
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