Toto Wolff says he is ready to discuss the possibility of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes in 2025
Mercedes, who is now looking for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton in preparation for the 2025 season, could consider all possibilities. The director of the German team, Toto Wolff, wants the best possible duo of drivers, and the choice of Max Verstappen would therefore be conceivable.
Following the departure of Lewis Hamilton to Scuderia Ferrari from 2025, Mercedes has launched the search for his successor following this unexpected announcement. When asked about the possibility of considering Max Verstappen as a potential replacement, the director of the German team, Toto Wolff, did not reject the idea but expressed how quickly the situation can change.
Several drivers have been mentioned as potential replacements, including Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz Jr., and Fernando Alonso, to name a few. But now, anything is possible, and with Toto Wolff stating that he wants to do something bold, all options are worth considering.
And one of these tracks could lead to Max Verstappen. Although the triple reigning world champion has a long-term contract with Red Bull, ending in 2028, Toto Wolff has not ruled out the idea of contacting the Dutch driver.
“We are always committed to having the most high-performing driver duo possible in our cars,” Wolff stated to the media. “For this, we will not hesitate to initiate various discussions. We have now seen how quickly something can change. However, at the same time, we respect the existing contracts.”
The ball is [for now] in our court.
However, despite Verstappen’s long-term contract, he also expressed that it was Mercedes’ role to seduce drivers and make them want to join the team. This can especially be achieved through an increase in competitiveness, or a well-presented development project.
“The drivers always want to be in the fastest car,” Wolff continued. “It is up to us to demonstrate that we can build the fastest car. Not only in the short and medium term, but also in the long term. This will then open up opportunities. The ball is in our court,” the Austrian director concluded.
Although the idea of seeing Verstappen join Mercedes may seem unlikely, there is a possibility of witnessing unexpected drivers donning the colors of the Brackley team, which remains one of the powerhouses of Formula 1.
