Latest news with #TotoWolff
Japan Times
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Japan Times
Red Bull adviser confirms Max Verstappen staying for 2026
Red Bull Racing will have Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen for at least another season. Team adviser Helmut Marko said Monday that the four-time defending F1 champion would return to the team in 2026 despite reported interest from Mercedes. A widely reported exit clause in Verstappen's Red Bull contract would have allowed him to leave the team at year's end if he were fourth or lower in the championship standings as of the Hungarian Grand Prix, which takes place this Sunday. Following the Belgian Grand Prix last Sunday, Verstappen sits in third place in the F1 standings and far enough ahead of fourth-place George Russell (28 points) that he cannot be caught in Hungary. The understanding of Verstappen's situation was confirmed when Marko spoke to German outlet "Yes, I can confirm that Max Verstappen will drive for Red Bull in 2026," Marko said. Mercedes' cars are currently occupied by Russell and potential rising star Kimi Antonelli, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has not denied looking into pursuing Verstappen, the most successful F1 driver since his first championship in 2021. Earlier this month, Red Bull abruptly dismissed team principal Christian Horner and replaced him with Laurent Mekies. Verstappen's agent told a Dutch outlet at the time that Verstappen remained committed to the team despite the change.
The Australian
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Australian
Max Verstappen tipped for explosive F1 switch to Mercedes
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff on Friday suggested he was interested in signing Max Verstappen to partner George Russell in a potentially explosive driver line-up for the 2026 season. During a series of interviews, it emerged that he had made contract with the four-time world champion and that this had affected contract talks with Russell who has been in outstanding form this year. Russell told Sky Sports F1 that it was entirely 'normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing', adding that a team that aims to win the championship has to go for the best drivers, engineers and pit-crews to succeed. 'But from my side, if I'm performing as I'm doing, what have I got to be concerned about? There are two seats in every Formula 1 team.' CONCERNING: Why Verstappen's struggles are bad news for Piastri's title charge LOCKED IN: No change to 'papaya rules' after Canadian GP bingle Could Red Bull driver Max Verstappen be on the move? Picture: AP Wolff has flirted with the idea of recruiting Verstappen for some time, but also expressed satisfaction with the current partnership of Russell and teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli – a precocious talent, but not yet an experienced or metronomic points-scorer. It may be, as many seasoned observers believe, that Wolff feels he can manage the testy rivalry between Russell and Verstappen, who have clashed several times in the last year both on and off the track. But, he conceded, it remains much more likely that Russell will stay at Mercedes next year – his contract ends this season – than that Verstappen, who is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, will arrive. 'He has been part of our program for 10 years,' Wolff said. Under the proposed changes George Russell (L) and Max Verstappen would become teammates. Picture: Getty 'He's always performed to the expectations and he's continuing to do so. These are normal business contract discussions as I have been doing for 30 years... And contract discussions are not held in Town Halls.' He added in a separate interview: 'At the moment, clearly you need to explore what's happening in the future, but it doesn't change anything of what I said before about George, about Kimi, about the line-up that I'm extremely happy having'. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. Picture: AP Verstappen declined to comment on the speculation when asked in a news conference on Thursday, but he is known to be frustrated with his Red Bull car this year. 'I don't think we need to talk about that,' the 27-year-old said. 'It's not really on my mind. Just driving well, trying to push the performance and then we focus on next year.' Much may depend on events at Red Bull where long-serving team consultant Helmut Marko is a key part of Verstappen's inner circle, but may be considering his own future amid reports that four-time champion Sebastian Vettel has been approached to replace him. In the wake of the departures of F1's most successful designer Adrian Newey to Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley to Sauber-Audi, it could be that Verstappen is also ready to leave. Next year will see F1 move into a new era with major rule changes requiring new engines and new cars – an opportunity that may favour a Mercedes revival.
France 24
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- France 24
Verstappen and Wolff laugh off Sardinia holiday stories
Max Verstappen, pictured here at Silverstone, quashed rumours he spent his holidays in Sardinia discussing a potential move to Mercedes The pair were reported to have been seen and photographed together on the Italian island following the British Grand Prix and after the shock sacking of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. But Verstappen told reporters that he was "swimming in the ocean at the time" and Wolff said he was impressed that people were producing "photo collages", and that it was coincidental they were both in Sardinia. "Well, I was swimming in the ocean at the time," said Verstappen of the claims before dismissing them. "I don't really care about those things. "Because I went on holiday with my friends, my family, and when other people also are there at the same time, that can happen. I mean, there are more people on the island than just me and Toto and the family. "If you go to the same island, that can happen." Wolff conceded it was unlikely Verstappen would be joining Mercedes after rumours had abounded in recent weeks about a shock team move. "The direction of travel is definitely that we want to continue with George (Russell) and Kimi (Antonelli). That is the absolute priority," he said. "But you can't look past someone like Max and the plans he has for the future. We did that, but I don't think there will be any big surprises. "What is new is that people are doing photo collages with aeroplanes. We've never had that before! "But if you spend your holidays close to each other, it doesn't mean that you're going to work together in Formula One. We have always got along well and by chance we like to spend our holidays at the same places." © 2025 AFP
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Mercedes boss shuts down Verstappen rumour in stunning rebuke
In the three weeks since the British Grand Prix, Max Verstappen's future has been the talk of the F1 world and it appeared all but certain he was headed to Mercedes. Red Bull's decision to sack Christian Horner in the middle of the season was seen by many as a desperate, last ditch effort to appease Verstappen's camp after two factions in the team emerged following the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Matechitz in 2022. Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every practice, qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. A covert meeting between Verstappen and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff in Sardinia raised eyebrows when their private jet and yachts happened to be in the same location. A team switch does seem logical for the Dutchman since Red Bull's performance has fallen off a cliff and Mercedes are tipped to be competitive when the new era of F1 regulations begin in 2026. But it now seems Verstappen to Mercedes may not be happening, with Wolff appearing to shut the door on poaching the four-time champion — backing current drivers George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli as his 'absolute priority' for 2026. 'Discussions have been taking place over the last weeks and months, so they are all up to date,' Wolff said to Austrian broadcaster ORF ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. 'The direction of travel is definitely that we want to continue with George and Kimi. That is the absolute priority. 'But you can't look past someone like Max and the plans he has for the future. We did that, but I don't think there will be any big surprises.' Wolff even took a swipe at F1 fans who had doctored images showing him boarding Verstappen's private jet. 'What's new is that people are doing photo collages with airplanes. We've never had that before,' Wolff said. 'But if you spend your holidays close to each other, it doesn't mean that you're going to work together in Formula 1. 'We have always gotten along well and by chance we like to spend our holidays at the same places.' Russell and Antonelli have contracts until the end of this season, while Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until the end of 2028. If Verstappen did replace Russell at Red Bull, it could trigger a domino effect across the grid. 'If Max leaves and they (Mercedes) don't burn themselves on George, then Red Bull will probably sign Carlos Sainz,' Montoya told AS Colombia. 'And then they put Kimi at Williams. That gives Antonelli time to develop, just like they did with George. 'I think they (Red Bull) had the option to bring in Carlos, but Max didn't want Carlos as a teammate. That makes it complicated. 'Although I don't think Max has been given the option or the right to say who he wants as a teammate at Mercedes. That's the only thing I don't think he will get, of what he does have at Red Bull.' Speaking to Vision4Sport, 1997 world champion Jacques Villenueve, said Verstappen would eat Antontelli alive at Mercedes. 'I don't think having Max as a teammate would be very helpful (for Antonelli),' Villeneuve said. 'Max is a big beast and unless you're good enough he will eat you alive. It's very simple. 'You have to be strong and good enough. Not because he's mean, but because he's a competitor and to earn his respect you have to be good. You have to be at a certain level.' Villeneuve added: 'George is bringing in a lot of (championship) points, but he doesn't have a very exciting image. And sponsors also want that. He is very clean cut, very proper, very Mercedes groomed. But the speed and the results are there. 'That's not the typical Red Bull approach, They like fire. They like explosions. They like chaos. So George is not a Red Bull driver. But he does bring the results. 'And Red Bull is in need of pushing the team forward again. Reorganising, redeveloping, re-understanding which direction to go, mostly with the new engine manufacturer it is paramount. George would be a good Ford driver.' The sight of Verstappen driving for another team is salivating for the F1 world, especially since it would give him the chance to enhance his case as the greatest driver of all time if he won a world championship with two different teams. That's something Michael Schumacher (Benetton, Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (McLaren, Mercedes) both did during their careers. The F1 season continues this weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix as Oscar Piastri looks to claim his sixth win of the season. Piastri leads his McLaren teammate Lando Norris by eight points heading into the second half of the year. The Brit is coming off consecutive victories in Austria and Silverstone.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Mercedes F1 aiming to keep Russell and Antonelli next season
Mercedes driver George Russell. Photo: ALBERTO VIMERCATI George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are Mercedes' first choice for next season, team boss Toto Wolff says in comments appearing to rule out an immediate move for Red Bull's four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen . Verstappen is third overall at the midpoint of the 24-round campaign, 69 points behind McLaren's overall leader Oscar Piastri and 61 adrift of the Australian's British teammate Lando Norris. Kimi Antonelli. Photo: PHOTOSPORT The Dutch driver's dream of a fifth successive title is disappearing and, with a new engine era starting in 2026 and the Mercedes power unit expected to be the pick of the field, there has been talk of Verstappen switching. That speculation was put in even sharper focus after Red Bull sacked long-serving team boss Christian Horner this month, with Laurent Mekies in charge at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. Russell's contract expires at the end of the season, although he is also managed by Mercedes, while 18-year-old rookie Antonelli only joined this year and is a big talent for the future. "The direction of travel is that we want to continue with George and Kimi. That is the first priority," Wolff told Austria's ORF television. "You can't look past someone like Max and the plans he has for the future. We did that, but I don't think there will be any big surprises." ORF said that while Verstappen had performance clauses, he would have needed to be outside the top three after Silverstone to trigger his contract release. Max Verstappen. Photo: AFP Social media lit up this month after Wolff and Verstappen were reported to be on vacation at the same time and in the same area of Sardinia, but the Mercedes boss dismissed any significance in that. "If you go on holiday close to each other, it doesn't mean that you are also going to work together in Formula One," he said. "We have always got along well. We also happen to vacation in similar areas." - Reuters
