The cat-and-mouse game between Toto Wolff and Max Verstappen continues. Lewis Hamilton might be the man of the moment after his record-breaking British GP victory, but his Mercedes boss’ eyes remain on getting Verstappen to fill the seat that the 7-time champion will vacate in 2025. Moreover, the W15’s sudden turnaround in performance at Silverstone where Red Bull struggled intensely has given Wolff a solid argument for luring the 3-time champion. His way of expressing this by making a mockery of Red Bull is even more hilarious.

Ahead of the Austrian GP, Toto Wolff sweet-talked Max Verstappen in the media. “We’ll see if the W15 will be a car that can convince Max,” he said, adding, “It’s Max who wins the races and not Red Bull.” One week later, with the British GP in sight, the Mercedes boss himself ruled out Verstappen joining them in 2025. He claimed that the reigning champion ditching Red Bull’s championship-winning car would be irrational. However, Wolff hyped Mercedes’ “quite attractive” title prospects for 2026, claiming Verstappen could join them then.

However, with Mercedes’ qualifying 1-2 and Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Silverstone, 2025 has already become the attractive option. Contrastingly, RB’s Sergio Perez was lapped twice, finishing P17. Though Verstappen continued his podium run, his RB20 wasn’t as mighty as before. And Wolff struck while the iron was hot. “Max now sees how Mercedes is doing, but I don’t know what he thought,” he said, as quoted by f1maximaal. “He’s seen the back of the Mercedes now, and maybe he thought about Mercedes for about 20 laps,” Wolff added with a sly smile, referring to Verstappen trailing Hamilton.

This weekend was an eye-opener not just for Mercedes’ 2025 driver prospects but also for the distant future. Their F2 prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli also won the F2 British GP Sprint Race. Will these successes change how drivers view Mercedes in the championship?

Toto Wolff keeps driver market expectations low despite Mercedes’ British GP heroics

After Lewis Hamilton’s exit announcement, no top drivers were interested in replacing him in 2025. In Silverstone, Toto Wolff shockingly revealed that he pursued Fernando Alonso but the 2-time champion wasn’t even interested in having a discussion. Suddenly, Wolff’s Kimi Antonelli choice turned into his only good remaining option.

Though Mercedes’ recent consecutive victories might change their perception in the eyes of drivers, the Austrian remains grounded. “I’ve always said we need a car that goes quick,“ Wolff told PlanetF1, continuing, “When we have a car that goes quick, we get interesting for many drivers. But, in a way, I think we need to stay calm and continue the season and continue to focus on the car and then look at whether the options are still the same. But it’s not like, you know, changing everything upside down.”

Mercedes might be a bit disappointed that they couldn’t get a hat-trick of victories in three consecutive weekends with the triple header end. But F1’s next stop is Hungary between the 19th to 21st of July and Hamilton again is the most successful driver there with 8 victories, as he had at Silverstone before making it 9 this weekend. Can the Silver Arrows continue their momentum for a roaring victory at the Hungaroring? What do you think? Share in the comments below.