Wolff reveals Verstappen talks for 2026 despite Jos bust-up – “Door Was Never Completely Closed” Wolff reveals the current Verstappen talks with a transfer possible in 2026. In a significant development within the Formula 1 community, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed that extensive discussions took place with Red Bull’s star driver, Max Verstappen, during the recent Zandvoort Grand Prix weekend.

While a transfer for the 2025 season has been ruled out, Wolff hinted that a potential move in the future remains a distinct possibility.

Max Verstappen, the three-time world champion and one of Formula 1’s brightest stars, will not be switching to Mercedes in 2025. Toto Wolff, who leads the Silver Arrows, has come to terms with this reality. The prospect of Verstappen taking over from Lewis Hamilton next year has been a topic of much speculation, but Wolff has now confirmed that such a move will not materialise in the near term.

“All year long, I thought there was a window or a possibility. It wasn’t zero,” Wolff remarked in an interview with motorsport-total.com. Despite the optimism, the Austrian acknowledged that there were several factors that contributed to the decision, including tensions within the Red Bull camp.

Wolff’s comments allude to the well-documented interpersonal issues between Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, Helmut Marko, and Max Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen. These internal dynamics, combined with performance concerns, created a complex environment for negotiations.

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2026: A New Possibility?

Despite the immediate future being clear, Wolff was keen to emphasise that a potential move for Verstappen to Mercedes is not entirely off the table. He revealed that his good relationship with Jos Verstappen played a crucial role in keeping discussions open.

“The door was never completely closed,” Wolff stated, adding that he values the candid and straightforward nature of his conversations with the Verstappen camp, which includes Max’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen.

“What I like about Max, Raymond, and Jos is that we speak frankly. We don’t have to push each other, we’ve been around long enough. We’ve made the decision for the drivers next year, and that’s now our full focus,” Wolff elaborated.

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Mercedes & Verstappen agreement over 2025

The Mercedes boss further explained that over the summer, both parties agreed not to wait for any unexpected developments before making decisions regarding 2025. Instead, Mercedes is expected to soon announce their driver lineup for the upcoming season, with rising star Kimi Antonelli widely tipped for promotion.

However, Wolff was careful not to dismiss the idea of Verstappen joining Mercedes in the future.

“Hopefully, it will be our pairing for 2026 and beyond. But that does not close the door to Max being with us in 2026 or later because we still want to keep all options open, just like he does,” Wolff said, underscoring the transparent and open nature of their discussions.

“Everything was always on the table,” he added, reinforcing that both parties have maintained an honest dialogue throughout.

 

 

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The Strained Relationship: Wolff and Jos Verstappen

The relationship between Toto Wolff and Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, has been a subject of intrigue in the Formula 1 paddock, particularly since the intense 2021 title fight between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

Wolff has candidly reflected on how the high-stakes competition between the two drivers strained not just the teams but also personal relationships, including his own with Jos.

Wolff recently expressed regret over a missed opportunity to reach out to Jos after the infamous incident at the 2021 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. During that race, Hamilton collided with Max Verstappen at Copse Corner, sending the Red Bull driver into the barriers at high speed.

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Big smash at Silverstone

Verstappen’s crash was one of the most dramatic moments of the season, and while Hamilton went on to win the race despite a 10-second penalty, the incident deepened the rivalry between the two camps.

“We had a moment after Silverstone. That season took its toll on all of us. It was so intense; we all felt that things weren’t quite right at that time,” Wolff admitted. He lamented not contacting Jos Verstappen immediately after the crash.

“Where it really went wrong was that I made a mistake after Silverstone. I didn’t call Jos on the same day, and I should have. But I didn’t call him because everyone was so angry about the whole situation,” Wolff explained.

Wolff’s hesitation stemmed from conflicting emotions and the high tension that permeated both teams during that season. He recounted how he relied on information from Red Bull’s Paul Monaghan, who assured him that Max was fine.

“He said that Max was fine and that there was nothing else going on. I relied on that information instead of calling Jos myself like I had done in previous years to ask ‘Is Max OK?'” Wolff reflected, highlighting his understanding as a parent involved in motorsport.

 

 

 

Mending Fences After Abu Dhabi

The 2021 season did not just strain relationships at Silverstone; it culminated in one of the most controversial finales in Formula 1 history at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The contentious decisions made during that race, which ultimately handed Verstappen his first world title, only served to heighten the tension between the Mercedes and Red Bull camps.

“Then of course we had the drama in Abu Dhabi and all the races that preceded it, such as the one in Saudi Arabia. The relations were not good for a year then,” Wolff admitted, reflecting on the turbulent period. However, he also noted that time helped heal these wounds, and the relationship with Jos eventually returned to a more positive state.

“In the season after that, we got back on the same wavelength. From then on, it was good again. Today and also in the past years, the relationship is just like in the beginning.”

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Red Bull’s Firm Stance

While Wolff’s comments suggest that a future move for Verstappen remains within the realm of possibility, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been quick to dismiss any such notions. Speaking to *Sky Sports* during the Zandvoort weekend, Horner made it clear that Verstappen was never in consideration for a move to Mercedes.

“He is definitely not available for Mercedes, and he never was available,” Horner stated unequivocally, reaffirming Red Bull’s commitment to retaining their star driver.

As the Formula 1 paddock speculates on what the future holds for Verstappen and Mercedes, one thing is clear: while a 2025 move is off the cards, the door remains ajar for potential developments in 2026 and beyond. The sport’s landscape could see significant shifts as teams and drivers navigate their way through evolving alliances and opportunities.

For now, though, Verstappen’s immediate future remains firmly with Red Bull, even as the motorsport world keeps a close watch on what could come next.

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Christian Horner came out fighting this weekend over the decision to retain Sergio Perez alongside Max Verstappen. Dr. Helmut Marko had revealed there would be a big pow pow in Milton Keynes on the day following the start of the summer break. Within a couple of hours and to much surprise, up came the white smoke along with the statement that Checo was to remain in his Red Bull seat going forward.

Checo had been awarded a new contract earlier this season as Horner later explained was designed to give their driver confidence of his future which would hopefully feed into more consistent performances. Yet since the over eight Grand Prix weekends and including Sprint events, Perez has scored just 27 points.

All this happened befor a ‘filming day’ test was run by V-CARB which saw Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson behind the wheel. It appeared to be set up as a shootout between the two drivers likely to replace Perez should…READ MORE ON THIS STORY