Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff has said he has no interest in “playing chess with humans” regarding his attempts to prise Max Verstappen to the team in 2025.
Wolff is assessing the options to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next season but has been on record as stating Verstappen is his main target.
The Dutchman is under contract with Red Bull through 2028, but the unrest within Red Bull since the start of this season has seen him linked with a switch elsewhere.
Reports emerged prior to the Miami Grand Prix that Wolff, Ola Kallenius and Sir Jim Ratcliffe were scheduled to hold discussions with the Verstappen camp this week.
But when asked to validate whether those rumours were true on Sunday, Wolff replied: “I can’t comment too much. What I can say is there is no meeting on Monday.”
However, the Austrian didn’t deny that Mercedes could enter concrete conversations with Verstappen, his father Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen at a later date.
Wolff, 52, has admitted that he is cautious about conversing over who will partner George Russell next season as to avoid undermining the other options for the drive.
“There’s always plenty of meetings,” he added. “I can’t really say about the second driver. I think we’ve talked about the possibilities.
“I want to be fair to these guys and not make it look like we are playing chess with humans because we are not doing that.
“I think we want to take our time and see where Max’s thinking goes and at the same time monitor the other drivers.
“The [Red Bull] car is very strong today again and that’s why we’re a little bit on an observation mode at the moment.”
Wolff has said that Mercedes is waiting on Verstappen, but he has accepted that the contractual situation means he’s under no obligation to announce a decision.
Pressed on whether Verstappen constituted the vital chess piece in the driver market, Wolff responded: “I think for all of the teams he is. It’s all in his hands.
“He’s the leading driver. He’s the top guy at the moment and that’s why he needs to make those decisions.
“There may not be any decision to take. Maybe everything continues like it is but that is also guidance for us.”
