The Austrian has not been shy about his desire to lure Verstappen to his team. Mercedes are losing Lewis Hamilton at the end of the season and the man currently dominating F1 seems like an ideal replacement for an outgoing seven-time champion.
So when civil war broke out at Red Bull before the start of the season and there were questions about Verstappen’s future with the team, Wolff leapt at the opportunity to try to publicly woo the 26-year-old. For now, though, it seems the Dutchman is content to stay where he is.
Perhaps reflecting that situation, Wolff responded to a question about his interest in Verstappen at the Spanish Grand Prix by telling reporters: “No, there’s no talks taking place at that stage because I think we need to look at ourselves and on improving the car.
“I think we just need to continue to improve and look at ourselves. The most important is as a team with our drivers, Lewis and George, we’ve just got to get better and hopefully consolidate our ability to be on the podium, and at a certain stage be able to win races on our own. And if you have a good car, good drivers will want to come.”
With a surprise Verstappen switch very unlikely, it seems Mercedes will turn to exciting youngster Andrea Kimi Antonelli to replace Hamilton instead. The Italian teenager will celebrate his 18th birthday in August and is regarded by Mercedes chiefs as the next big emerging talent.
Some reports from Germany in the last week claimed that the Silver Arrows have already decided that Antonelli will be the man to race alongside George Russell next year, but Wolff denied that. He said: “No driver decision has been made – I said we want to keep this decision as long as possible because who knows what will happen.”
Toto Wolff was asked about Mercedes’ chances of signing Max Verstappen (
Image:
Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Hamilton insists he does not regret his early decision to walk away from Mercedes to join Ferrari. The Italians have looked better placed to take the fight to Red Bull over the last couple of years but finished behind both Hamilton and Russell in Barcelona.
The Silver Arrows have undeniably made progress but the 39-year-old still sees a bright future at Maranello and said: “I love Mercedes. I have been with Mercedes since I was 13 and I will always be a fan and a supporter of them… Whatever course and trajectory the team is on for next year, there are things I hopefully will have been a part of and I am proud of that.
“My job next year will be to start with the other team, and they are doing a great job. They have had a difficult couple of races but let’s not forget they had a race win in Monaco. I don’t know what is wrong with their car and why they are in the position they are in. But it doesn’t make me second-guess my decision at all.”
News
Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori responds to lawsuit claiming she sent porn to Yeezy staff, including minors
Kanye West‘s wife Bianca Censori has denied claims she sent porn to Yeezy staff, including minors. A federal lawsuit filed in California claimed that Censori, 29, sent an employee a link to ‘hardcore’ sexual content after her husband announced the launch of his adult film business,…
Franck Bruno says the ‘best fighter’ he faced is Mike Tyson: ”Mike Tyson had it all, the hunger to win the belts, to fight, to move and determination to take anybody down that crossed him at his peak. He knew the quicker he could get rid of his opponent the less chance he would get caught and he was determined to get rid of his opponents quickly.”
Former heavyweight world champion and British fan-favourite, Frank Bruno, revealed the best fighter that he has ever stepped into the ring with after a forty-five fight career that spanned over fourteen years. Bruno was recognised as one of the division’s…
Iron Mike’s Secret: The Fear That Lurked Behind Boxing’s Most Intimidating Entrance
Mike Tyson is an enigma is every sense of the word. The guy once known as The Baddest Man on the Planet shot to fame after becoming the youngest ever heavyweight champion in history at just 20 years old. With…
Mike Tyson’s five most incredible knockouts revealed including destroying undefeated Michael Spinks in 91 second blitz
MIKE TYSON was so dangerous in the ring that even he is scared of the man he used to be. The American, 54, dominated the world of boxing after he was crowned the youngest heavyweight world champion in 1986, aged…
George Foreman reveals why he never fought Mike Tyson and wanted nothing to do with the ‘monster’ boxer
GEORGE FOREMAN branded Mike Tyson a “monster” as he revealed why he did not want to step into the ring with his rival. The two-time heavyweight champion was tipped to fight the Baddest Man on the Planet when he made…
Mike Tyson believes a normal person can take his punches if they ‘don’t fear death’ and says he was a ‘nervous’ fighter
BOXING legend Mike Tyson has revealed how a “normal person” could take one of his punches if they had no fear of death. Iron Mike was considered one of the most brutal and hardest hitters in the sport after being…
End of content
No more pages to load