Toto Wolff responds to rumours linking Max Verstappen with Mercedes switch

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Mercedes team principal has issued his response to rumours linking Max Verstappen with a sensational move to Mercedes for 2025.

It emerged this week that Verstappen is the ‘hottest candidate’ to succeed Lewis Hamilton, who will replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari next year.

Wolff has previously said that ‘everything is possible’, and he’s now issued a fresh take on the Verstappen stories.

Verstappen is under contract at Red Bull until 2028 and has won three world championships in a row with the Milton Keynes outfit.

He’s the strong favourite to win a fourth this season after a dominant lights-to-flag victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend.

However, Wolff personally wants to bring the Dutchman to the Silver Arrows has repaired his relationship with father Jos.

There’s apparently a clause in Verstappen’s deal that allows him to leave the team if director Helmut Marko departs.

Toto Wolff addresses Max Verstappen to Mercedes talk

Speaking to Sky Sport Italy in the paddock ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Wolff said the market of Hamilton replacements is looking ‘very interesting’, with more than half the grid out of contract.

He admits that Verstappen has no clear incentive to walk away from Red Bull ‘anytime soon’, but refused to rule out a swoop.

He said: “The market is very interesting. For a driver the most important thing is to be with whoever is fastest, and there is no reason now for Max to leave Red Bull anytime soon. But we’ll see what happens.”

Mercedes also have Andrea Kimi Antonelli option for 2025

It remains to be seen whether they make a fully-fledged push to sign Verstappen, but Mercedes will also be eager to carve out a pathway to the top for young driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

There are some F1 insiders who believe that Antonelli, who’s just starting out in F2, is comparable to a young Verstappen in talent.

There’s a scenario in which Mercedes hand him a rookie deal in the top team for 2025 and look to George Russell as the senior figure.

However, David Croft has also suggested that Wolff could look to position the Italian at Williams for a couple of years.

James Vowles is an admirer of the 17-year-old, and Mercedes supply power units to the Grove outfit.