Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has spoken about the contract situations of his two Formula One drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, both of whom are out of contract at the end of the current season. Wolff also addressed the ongoing story surrounding Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and whether the reigning world champion could make the switch to Mercedes in the near future.

With Mercedes only committing to young Italian talent Kimi Antonelli on a one-year deal and rumours of a move for Verstappen circulating for months, the F1 paddock has been abuzz with speculation about a potential move for the Red Bull superstar. The question remains: could Verstappen be in a Silver Arrows seat in 2026?

 

 

 

Wolff’s challenge post Hamilton

Toto Wolff has never been one to shy away from big decisions or bold statements. As the team boss behind Mercedes’ dominant era in Formula One, the Austrian team principal has always kept an eye on the long-term future of his team, ensuring that Mercedes remain at the forefront of the sport.

Over the years, Wolff has played a crucial role in driver selection, whether it was to help Niki Lauda bring in Lewis Hamilton in 2013, grooming George Russell as the heir apparent or making key decisions on Valtteri Bottas after Nico Rosberg shock retirement.

In recent years, however, his biggest challenge has been dealing with the post-Hamilton era and deciding who will take the Silver Arrows forward.

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Hamilton quits

The Formula One landscape is changing rapidly. Last year alone saw a bombshell announcement that shook the sport to its core – Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion and face of Mercedes’ success, announced his move to Ferrari. It was the kind of revelation that sent shockwaves through the paddock, marking the end of an era and forcing Mercedes to rethink its long-term vision.

As soon as Hamilton’s intentions were made public over the winter, the driver market was set ablaze with speculation over who might take his place alongside George Russell.

Never one to let the press control the narrative, Wolff was quick to address the issue. Throughout the early months of last season, he made it clear that Mercedes would take its time to evaluate its options. However, it wasn’t long before one name began to dominate the conversation – Max Verstappen.

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Verstappen publically targetted

The Red Bull superstar had already established himself as the undisputed force of the current generation, winning multiple world titles with a level of dominance that rivalled even Hamilton’s best seasons. And with Red Bull facing internal turmoil behind the scenes, whispers of a possible move to Mercedes only grew louder.

Midway through the season, Wolff made headlines when he openly acknowledged Verstappen as a “natural fit” for Mercedes, should he ever become available.

His comments, carefully measured yet revealing, added fuel to a fire that had been smoldering for months.

“If a driver like Max becomes available, you have to consider it,” he said in an interview. “We respect contracts, but in F1 you never know what the future holds.”

At the time, Red Bull maintained that Verstappen was under contract until 2028, but that didn’t stop the speculation. Paddock insiders began to dissect potential release clauses in his contract, questioning whether a combination of friction within the team and the lure of the Mercedes legacy could tempt him away. The public statements by Wolff certainly felt like it was designed to potentially destabilise Horner and Co at Red Bull during a difficult time in early 2023.

Toto Wolff jokes about Hamilton’s start at Ferrari

 

 

 

 

Wolff on Verstappen: “He has a contract until 2028”

Since that time, Wolff signed rookie Antonelli and seems focused on not pulling the rug from under his feet for his first F1 season. When recently asked by Germany’s Sport Bild if it was an open secret that Mercedes remained interested in Verstappen, Wolff was brief but telling: “Max still has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028,” the Austrian explained, confirming that the Dutchman remains firmly tied to Red Bull despite all the rumours.

While Verstappen’s current contract reportedly includes a release clause, Wolff was clear that such a detail does not automatically mean he will be driving for Mercedes any time soon.

“It doesn’t mean that he will drive for us next year,” added Wolff, shutting down any immediate transfer talk.

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Short-term contracts at Mercedes: A long-term approach

Aside from the Verstappen rumours, there has also been intrigue surrounding Antonelli’s contract, which is only for one year, leading to speculation that Mercedes are keeping their options open should Verstappen become available.

However, Wolff was quick to dismiss such theories, explaining that short-term contracts have been a common strategy within Mercedes for years.

“The short contract term for Kimi has nothing to do with a possible interest in other drivers,” Wolff clarified.

“We have always had short contracts at Mercedes. That’s what happened with Lewis (Hamilton), that’s what happened with George (Russell),” he continued, referring to how Mercedes has historically handled driver agreements.

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Russell’s contract negotiations yet to begin

Russell, who has been with Mercedes since 2022, also faces the end of his current contract in 2024. However, Wolff revealed that negotiations for an extension have not yet begun.

“But that’s normal because we have long-term management contracts with both Kimi and George,” he said.

Wolff reassured fans and pundits alike that there was no need for concern over Mercedes’ driver line-up beyond 2024.

“Nobody has to worry,” he added, signalling that he remains confident about the team’s future driver line-up regardless of the speculation swirling around Verstappen.

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Antonelli faces high expectations in first F1 season

For now, Mercedes’ focus remains on the present, particularly as Antonelli makes his long-awaited Formula One debut. The young Italian has been fast-tracked into the sport and is under immense pressure as he joins a top team alongside Russell.

“He is driving for a top team and has to prove himself against one of the fastest drivers. The whole world is watching,” admitted Wolff, acknowledging the scrutiny Antonelli will face in his rookie campaign.

To help the 17-year-old manage the expectations, the Mercedes boss emphasised the importance of focus.

“That’s why we tell him: ‘Focus on Formula One. Don’t look left or right. If you perform here, the rest will follow,'” explained Wolff.

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What’s next for Mercedes?

As the 2024 season progresses, much remains uncertain about Mercedes’ long-term driver line-up. While Antonelli’s performance will be closely monitored, Russell’s contract situation will also need to be resolved. Meanwhile, the persistent Verstappen rumours refuse to die down, especially given the ongoing internal tensions at Red Bull.

For now, Wolff’s message is clear: Mercedes are in no rush to make any decisions, and the current focus is on performance rather than speculation. However, with the F1 driver market constantly evolving, the intrigue surrounding Mercedes’ 2025 and 2026 lineups is far from over.

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MORE F1 NEWS – Verstappen and FIA president ‘strange bedfellows’

Max Verstappen is one of the most straight talking amongst the F1 drivers, he says what he thinks and is a dream for the F1 media. The world champion was heavily criticised for his defensive moves against Lando Norris in Austria last year when the pair collided, yet he defended his driving style as within the rules.

Again at the US Grand Prix, he and Norris found themselves arguing over the same piece of track at the end of the long back straight. Norris in fact overtook the Red Bull; drover, but Max knew the rules stated if he claimed the apex of the corner first, he had the right to use all the track on exit regardless of where Norris’ McLaren was positioned.

In the run up to the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had called on his race stewards to clamp down on bad language used by the drivers, suggesting they were more like rappers than professionals sportsmen. At the opening FIA press conference of the weekend on Thursday, Verstappen described how his car had felt at the previous race weekend in Baku as follows: “As soon as I went into qualifying, I knew the car was fucked.” READ MORE ON THIS STORY