Mercedes chief Toto Wolff admitted his team is not currently in talks with Max Verstappen over a switch to the Silver Arrows.

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.”