Mercedes boss Toto Wolff claims he “never” planned to have Max Verstappen replace Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 Formula 1 campaign.
Hamilton rocked Mercedes ahead of last year’s campaign with his announcement that 2024 would be his last for the Silver Arrows ahead of a move to Ferrari.
In search of a replacement, Wolff courted Verstappen through the media amid sociopolitical unrest at Red Bull.
Ultimately, Wolff opted for Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli and said via an announcement at the Italian Grand Prix that: “I made up my mind five minutes after Lewis Hamilton told me he was going to Ferrari.”
Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, Wolff admitted “There was never a plan [to sign Verstappen].
“We always talked and kept the line of communication open,” the Austrian added.
“At some point he said that he wanted to stay where he was for the time being because it felt right for him.
“And I said that we would go with Kimi because it also felt right for us.
“And now we’ll see where it takes us.”
Is Verstappen to Mercedes realistic?
Verstappen and Red Bull had a tricky run to the Dutchman’s fourth Drivers’ title, with a 10-race winning streak in the middle of 2024 proving a substantial hurdle to overcome.
As it stands, Red Bull doesn’t have the strongest form heading into 2025 and a fifth title could be tricky for Verstappen.
Could that tempt him to move elsewhere?
Speaking to the media at the Dutch GP last August, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner admitted that Verstappen has a “performance element” in his contract that runs through 2028.
According to the Times, that clause would allow Verstappen to look elsewhere should he be lower than third in the Drivers’ standings after a “significant” portion of the 2025 season.
With George Russell in a contract year and the terms of Antonelli’s deal unspecified, Mercedes could represent an option for 2026.
The changing engine rules for next year are a factor at play, with Mercedes increasingly boastful of its prospects and Red Bull embarking on a new in-house power unit project.
Last season, Mercedes CEO Ola Kallenius stated the coming changes in 2026 present the marque an opportunity to poach Verstappen.
“The best driver wants to have the best car. And that’s our job, to bring the best package together,” he told Sky Germany.
“The cards will be reshuffled in 2026. New order with new rules. That’s also an opportunity. Who knows? But I think Max would look good in silver, wouldn’t he?”
Verstappen happy staying put at Red Bull
In the meantime, however, Verstappen has stated that he is happy in his current surroundings.
Responding to speculation linking him to Mercedes, the Dutchman told Viaplay: “With [Mercedes], of course, there was also a lot at play and they had to make a choice for a new driver.
“I have achieved a lot of success with [Red Bull] and it just feels like a second family,” he added.
“You can’t make the consideration to leave very quickly.
“It’s not like, I wake up and I say, ‘yeah, next year it’s done.’
“I am not someone who shoots from left to right very quickly anyway.
“So you really have to think about that kind of thing very carefully, too, if you want to do that.”
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