Toto Wolff shares what the ‘public’ don’t know about his relationship with Max Verstappen

Follow us on Google Discover

Toto Wolff hasn’t given up on his pursuit of Max Verstappen, even though the reigning world champion won’t race for the team in 2025. Wolff tried to sign Verstappen to replace Lewis Hamilton.

Though he’s technically under contract at Red Bull until the end of 2028, Verstappen’s deal features multiple exit clauses. He wouldn’t have made such a long-term commitment without any way out.

However, the Dutchman wasn’t ready to leave the Milton Keynes outfit when Wolff approached him earlier this year. That’s despite mounting frustration with the team’s trajectory.

Verstappen recently went 10 races without a victory, which forced him firmly onto the defensive in the title fight. While he spectacularly ended that drought in Brazil, it was an abnormal race after a torrential downpour.

Come the final three races of the season, Red Bull may return to their role as F1’s third-fastest team. Verstappen has found the car difficult to drive.

Mercedes have signed Kimi Antonelli alongside George Russell for 2025. If Verstappen makes himself available for 2026, those drivers could effectively be going head-to-head for the seat alongside him.

Toto Wolff says he gets on ‘very well’ with Mercedes target Max Verstappen

During an appearance on the High Performance podcast, Wolff discussed his relationship with Verstappen. While he didn’t set out a timeline, he once again opened the door to a future move.

“Max is a great driver and an interesting personality,” he said. “God knows what happens in the future.”

The two were on opposite sides of one of F1’s most acrimonious rivalries in 2021. Wolff has admitted he should have called Jos Verstappen after his son’s heavy crash at the British Grand Prix, which led to Hamilton being penalised.

However, the ‘relationships are intact’, which means they can hold negotiations in a constructive atmosphere. While Wolff rarely interacts with Verstappen in front of the F1 cameras, he says they have a strong rapport behind the scenes.

“We get on very well – not always in the visibility of the public eye,” he said. “I’ve known Jos for a long time. He’s my age. We have similar views on racing. I wouldn’t want the year 2021 to put any shadow on the personal relationship that we have.

“It was bad enough that year. The relationships are intact.”

Max Verstappen still planning to leave Red Bull unless he sees one thing in 2025

It was telling that even Hamilton congratulated Verstappen after his Brazil win. His fellow world champions couldn’t dispute that it was a special performance, though Lando Norris has faced a backlash for suggesting he was lucky.

It was a particularly emotional win for the 27-year-old, who had started 17th as a result of an engine penalty and an unfortunate Q2 exit. He also arrived in Brazil facing wide-ranging criticism over his driving style after two penalties in Mexico.

But after the wild celebrations of Sunday evening, Verstappen will look rationally at his future. He wants to preserve his dominance for as long as possible, beyond the major regulations in 2026.

And that may be why Verstappen is still planning to leave Red Bull unless the team can significantly improve their car over the coming winter. The departure of key figures like Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley and Will Courtenay, and the end of their relationship with Honda, has sewn uncertainty about their long-term prospects.