The driver lineup for the upcoming season is nearly set, with Mercedes recently named Kimi Antonelli Lewis Hamilton’s successor. Despite Toto Wolff’s repeated efforts to bring in Red Bull’s rising star, those attempts proved unsuccessful, leading Mercedes to introduce a rookie driver instead.
Interestingly, Wolff’s pursuit wasn’t entirely one-sided, as reports indicate that Verstappen’s camp was also in discussions with Mercedes officials. Additionally, Red Bull Racing’s ongoing struggles could potentially drive the reigning world champion to explore other options. However, this option won’t be possible for the 2025 season. Toto Wolff recently opened up about the driver lineup conundrum, affirming Russell-Antonelli to be Mercedes’ future.
Toto Wolff Ends Verstappen Pursuit For 2025, Leaves Door Open 2026 Move
Toto Wolff has openly accepted his pursuit of Max Verstappen. The Austrian executive wanted to sign in the RBR starlet but failed to do so in this F1 cycle. As a result, after Lewis Hamilton’s exit, the Silver Arrows were left with limited options. Thus, the team decided to try out Italian prodigy Kimi Antonelli. After this confirmation, Max Verstappen was out of the picture, at least for 2025. Toto Wolff shared his thoughts about the Dutchman during an interaction with Motorsport.
Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes, recently explained his stance on pursuing Max Verstappen for a future move. Wolff emphasized the importance of having faith in his current drivers and the team. He believes that in order to achieve success, it’s crucial to provide maximum support and commitment to the existing lineup. He would consider looking for other opportunities only if things take a significant turn for the worse.
Moreover, Wolff likened it to staying loyal in a relationship. He isn’t interested in “flirting” with other drivers while working to make the current partnership succeed. He also believes Verstappen shares this same view. Both are aligned in their values, and neither would explore new options unless a change became absolutely necessary. Wolff’s comments reflect a mutual understanding with Verstappen, suggesting that, while they may admire each other’s talents, they’re committed to their respective teams for the time being.
Toto Wolff Sees Kimi Antonelli-George Russell As Mercedes Future
Toto Wolff highlighted the similarities between George Russell’s career path and that of other young drivers in the Mercedes program, such as Andrea Kimi Antonelli. He pointed out that both drivers share a similar trajectory, having come through karting and junior formula levels. Wolff emphasized that Russell was the first Mercedes junior to join the team officially and remains a core part of their driver lineup.
Wolff also noted that Mercedes treats its drivers equally, emotionally, and professionally. There is no distinction in the level of support given to Russell compared to Antonelli. The team’s commitment to nurturing its talent remains the same, with both drivers receiving full backing from Mercedes as they continue their careers.