Toto Wolff might be tempted to lure Max Verstappen to Mercedes from Red Bull.
Toto Wolff will not succeed, according to Red Bull technical advisor Helmut Marko, if he attempts to sign Max Verstappen to Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, decided to join Ferrari in 2025, so Wolff is looking for a replacement.
Although Hamilton will be a Mercedes driver in 2024, a succession plan is anticipated to be created within the next twelve months. Verstappen, Hamilton’s opponent and three-time world champion, has been tangentially associated with Mercedes.
Over the past few seasons, the Dutchman has had incredible success with Red Bull, controlling the grid and handily taking home consecutive driver’s titles. Marko has informed Wolff that his chances of landing Verstappen for Mercedes are slim.
When the German newspaper Sport questioned Marko about whether Red Bull was expecting offers for the 26-year-old, he replied, “Toto Wolff will try that – but he will be unsuccessful.”
The 80-year-old added that Verstappen had “a good memory” and could still recall Wolff’s criticism following the Red Bull star and Hamilton’s collision at the 2021 Great British Grand Prix. To the ire of Mercedes and Wolff, Verstappen went on to win the World Championship in a contentious manner that year.
Wolff was taken aback by Hamilton’s departure when he learned of the 39-year-old’schoicelast Wednesday. The Mercedes CEO had an extremely busy day and received the announcement the next day.
A fan theory that Hamilton chose to step down after testing Mercedes’ car for 2024 has been refuted by Wolff. Fans have speculated that Hamilton knew the Silver Arrows would not be competitive this year because of his complaints over the last few years regarding the vehicles’ performance.
Two days after learning that the driver intended to depart in a year, Wolff stated on Friday that Hamilton had driven the W15 in the simulator for the first time.
Wolff replied, “Today,” when asked when Hamilton would try the simulator for the first time on Friday.
“To begin with, the car has been developed in a team with a lot of science and data, and the driver gives us guidance of what he feels in the car. This is then analyzed and it is decided whether it happens or not,” the Austrian went on.
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