Mercedes Boss Toto Wolff Teases Max Verstappen with a Hint of Opportunity Amid Formula 1’s British Grand Prix Triumph
Formula 1 news today has been abuzz with Mercedes’ back-to-back victories in Austria and Britain, and Team Principal Toto Wolff is keen to use this momentum to lure Max Verstappen to the German marque. Despite Verstappen’s repeated assertions that he will remain with Red Bull next season, Wolff continues to make public overtures in an attempt to secure the Dutchman’s signature.
Wolff’s desire to pair Verstappen with George Russell in 2025 has been well-documented since Lewis Hamilton’s shock departure to Ferrari for the same season. With Mercedes’ recent dominant performance at Silverstone, Wolff is optimistic that his team is on the right track to becoming a genuine title contender once again.
When asked if Mercedes’ progress had made the decision on who would partner Russell more challenging, Wolff played it cool, stating, “> I don’t think… It doesn’t influence our thinking. I’ve always said we need a car that goes quick, and when we have a car that goes quick, we put the driver in, and we get it interesting for our main drivers.”
Wolff emphasized the importance of staying focused on improving the W15, citing that it’s essential to “stay calm and continue the season.” However, he did take a subtle jab at Verstappen, hinting that the three-time champion would have taken note of Mercedes’ continuous progression.
“I don’t know,” Wolff said, when asked if the recent outing would heighten interest in the seat. “He [Verstappen] has lots of opportunities to look at the car in the race.”
This statement is a clear indication that Wolff believes Verstappen would be impressed by Mercedes’ recent form.
Verstappen, who finished second behind Hamilton at Silverstone, admitted that Red Bull’s pace was lacking during the race, especially in the mixed conditions.
“Well, over one lap, it didn’t look too bad,” Verstappen said. “I think it was just pace in the race. We just didn’t have the pace. I couldn’t follow the deg of the others. And that’s something, of course, that we need to understand.”
As the Formula 1 standings continue to shape up, Wolff’s tactics to lure Verstappen to Mercedes will be closely watched. With the Formula 1 calendar heating up, it remains to be seen if Verstappen will be swayed by Mercedes’ recent success.
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