Toto Wolff admits Max Verstappen has ‘no reason’to join Mercedes in 2025

Toto Wolff claims Max Verstappen will not be leaving Red Bull for Mercedes at the end of this season.

Toto Wolff admits Max Verstappen has ‘no reason’to join Mercedes in 2025

Toto Wolff and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

Toto Wolff told the media at the Austrian GP that it will take some time for Max Verstappen to join Mercedes. He believed that Verstappen would not choose to leave his team for 2025 despite publicly stating interest in the Dutchman in recent weeks.

Toto Wolff claimed that Mercedes’s main goal is to persuade Max Verstappen to join them in 2026. He explained that there’s no reason for Verstappen to consider joining Mercedes in 2025 because his current team, Red Bull, has an dominant car. RB20 is performing so well that the 26-year-old might win every race from now. Wolff reckoned that as long as Red Bull remained faster than Mercedes, Verstappen would not want to switch teams. Recently, Toto Wolff had responded to the Dutchman’s claims of staying at Red Bull.

Would Max Verstappen ever consider joining Mercedes in 2025? No, there’s no reason. why would he? The car is ultra dominant, maybe he’s going to win every race.
Toto Wolff said, as reported by SkySports F1
YouTube video

The Austrian billionaire explained that 2026 is the year when everything in Formula 1 will change, Mercedes might be the top team then. There is a high chance Mercedes could attract top drivers in 2026. The top driver here is referred to Verstappen, because Wolff though it would be a good opportunity to bring someone like him to the team. However, Wolff was unsure if Max Verstappen would be able to get out of his current contract with Red Bull.

FS Video
2026 is our main year where lots of things change, it could be quite attractive drivers. Whether it's Max, and whether he can get out of his contract I don't know.
Toto Wolff added

Toto Wolff praised Max Verstappen on ‘driving in another hemisphere’

Max Verstappen set the fastest lap during qualifying and won the Sprint race this weekend. Mercedes was trailing 8 seconds behind the dutchman at fourth position finished by George Russell during sprint. Toto Wolff praised Verstappen on his performance, said he was driving in another hemisphere. Wolff meant that the 26-year-old’s performance was on a completely different level compared to the other drivers. The Dutch driver was so fast and skilled that he was far ahead of everyone else.

Max is driving in another hemisphere. He’s gone.
Toto Wolff stated
Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)
Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

Wolff addressed that Russell on fourth position was 12 kph slower than Verstappen’s car. He stated this speed difference would make it difficult for them to compete with Red bull effectively. Wolff’s comment highlighted, the gap between Mercedes and Red Bull, showing how challenging it is for them to keep up with the three time world champions speed and skills.

We lose 12kph compared to Verstappen, of course you can’t achieve anything.
Toto Wolff added

Certainly, Toto Wolff was very impressed by Max Verstappen’s performance in qualifying and Sprint race. Looking at the gap between Verstappen and the others who are trailing, Wolff might know who the winner is for Sunday’s race. Fans are very pleased to watch the Dutch driver perform exceptionally at their home race at the Red Bull Ring.

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