“Of course I regret it,” Toto Wolff makes bombshell claim about a failed attempt to pair Lewis Hamilton with Max Verstappen at Mercedes

Toto Wolff regrets not signing Max Verstappen when he had the chance in 2014 says Max Verstapen took a good decision joining Red Bull.

Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen

The prospect of having two of the biggest names in Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, on the same team is undoubtedly exciting. The two drivers went head-to-head in a thrilling title fight last year, with Verstappen coming out on top. However, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has revealed that he regrets not signing Verstappen in 2014 when the Dutch driver was still in his early teens.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that he deeply regrets not signing Max Verstappen in 2014, stating, “Whether I regret that with the knowledge of today? Yes, of course.” The Dutchman was a highly sought-after prospect, with Mercedes being the top contender for his signature until Red Bull offered him a seat, and he eventually opted to join the Milton Keynes-based team.

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The Mercedes boss expressed his disappointment in missing out on Verstappen in 2014, saying, “It was not an option for us, at the time we were very happy with Lewis and Nico Rosberg and then with Lewis and Valtteri Bottas. Max was not available after that either.” Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton’s relationship was famously acrimonious, and Wolff did not want to repeat the same toxic dynamic after Rosberg’s retirement, leading the team to sign Valtteri Bottas.

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Toto Wolff believes that Max Verstappen made a wise decision when he chose Red Bull

Toto Wolff and Max Verstappen (Credits: The Week UK)

In the following years, Max and Lewis fought in two cars on varying performances, with Hamilton having the edge in a much more dominant car. Verstappen and Hamilton had a boiling title fight in 2021, with the race going down to the last lap of the last race of the season. They were on pace throughout the year, and fans witnessed a titanic battle between two drivers from different generations.

The Dutchman proved his caliber as he overthrew Hamilton from the throne in 2021. Wolff believes that Verstappen and Hamilton would have made an incredible team at Mercedes, stating, “Would Max and Lewis together in a team have worked? Maybe not. But I never had to ask myself that hard question.”

Toto Wolff sur Max Verstappen :

« Que ce soit Max, Lewis, Michael ou Ayrton, ils sont tous différents. Mais ils ont tous un coté rugueux. J'aime les gens comme ça, les gens difficiles. Cela signifie souvent qu'ils ont plus d'ambition et de dévouement. » (Telegraaf) pic.twitter.com/8Gkfr1H3OF
— F1anso (@SMV_Racing) April 29, 2023

Max Verstappen’s journey to the top of the racing world has been widely documented, beginning with his promotion to Red Bull in 2016 following outstanding results for Toro Rosso. His breakthrough came late at Red Bull, but Mercedes’ Toto Wolff feels Verstappen selected the right team at the right time. He concluded that Verstappen’s move to Red Bull paid off, stating, “And we can certainly conclude that Max made a good decision at the time by choosing Red Bull.”

Despite missing out on Verstappen, Mercedes has continued to dominate the sport, winning seven consecutive Constructors’ Championships from 2014 to 2020. With Verstappen and Hamilton fully committed to their respective teams, it remains to be seen if they will ever get to team up and compete for titles together.