Toto Wolff Reveals Secret to Signing Max Verstappen From Christian Horner and Co.
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Image Credits: Imago (L) Max Verstappen (R) Toto Wolff
Can Toto Wolff still hope to convince Max Verstappen to join Mercedes after their poor result in China? He thinks so, and for good reason. Wolff has been on the lookout for a worthy replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who is moving over to Ferrari in 2025. And Max Verstappen has been linked to that Mercedes seat for a while now. Wolff has openly admitted that he is after the Dutchman for 2025.
He wants Max Verstappen, even if he has to offer a ridiculous amount of money to the reigning champion. But the real question is: Why would a driver leave the most dominant team on the grid to join Mercedes? Despite its illustrious history, Mercedes hasn’t been at its top game since the ground-effect regulations took effect in 2022.
It might look stupid from the outside to consider Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull for Mercedes, but not to Wolff. He thinks that there are more important things than just a team’s performance levels that encourage drivers to stay. He believes that Verstappen has the “depth“ to look past Mercedes’s present performance.
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“I don’t think this [performance] is the only reason you stay where you are,” Wolff told the media after the Chinese Grand Prix. “Let’s say, [for] simple minds, that might be the only reason why you stay in a car, and that’s it. But maybe there are more depths for some people that consider other factors too. I think that Max has that.”
He added another factor to what he thinks might attract Verstappen in 2026, if not in 2025. “It’s a question of how they [Verstappen and his management] feel about the future… I think we’re in a very good position for 2026. If we’re able to produce a decent chassis, we’re a good value proposition,” said Wolff. With everything going on behind the scenes at Red Bull Racing, Verstappen might just consider a switch, even if he has to give up the best car on the grid.
Mercedes didn't make itself look very attractive as a destination in China – but Toto Wolff hasn't given up on the dream of poaching Max Verstappen.
And he thinks Verstappen has the "depth" to consider non-Red Bull options (particularly beyond 2025). pic.twitter.com/SytQmC98Y0
— The Race (@wearetherace) April 21, 2024
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After Wolff’s comments, it was only natural for the media to ask Christian Horner how he felt about it. As expected, Horner didn’t hold back.
Christian Horner advises Toto Wolff to look past drivers that are “unavailable”
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He emphasized that Verstappen’s satisfaction within the team is important. Horner also stated that Verstappen’s contract with the team is until 2028. He highlighted that Red Bull has surpassed Mercedes in every way since 2022, and then questioned why anyone would want to leave a team that is performing so well.
“I don’t think Toto’s problems are his drivers; I think he’s probably got other elements that he needs to be focusing on rather than focusing on drivers that are unavailable,” said Horner. Will Toto Wolff win over Max Verstappen? Will the latter join Mercedes in 2026? It remains to be seen.
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