Toto Wolff the manager of the Mercedes team, has declared that he is open to making a long-shot attempt to sign Max Verstappen for the 2025 Formula One season.
Amidst the fallout from the investigation into Christian Horner, whose relationship with Verstappen’s father, Jos, is reportedly tense, the triple world champion has been the target of allegations of unhappiness.
There have been rumors that Lewis Hamilton’s current squad will want to sign Verstappen after he leaves Mercedes at the conclusion of the Formula One season to join Ferrari.
Wolff is eager to put the Dutchman’s determination to the test even if he pledged Red Bull his future.
At the Australian Grand Prix, he told Fox Sports, “We have a slot free, the only one in the top teams – unless Max decides he goes and then the slot is not going to be free with us anymore.”
Verstappen joined Red Bull because Mercedes was unable to provide him an F1 seat at the time, despite Wolff’s attempts to sign him as a teenager. The Austrian has maintained that he is still friendly with Max’s powerful father Jos.
When asked whether Verstappen would be his first choice, Wolff said, “Yes.” You can see how well he performs, but I wouldn’t want to write off the others either.”
“It’s a kind of relationship that needs to happen at a certain stage,” the speaker continued.
In addition, Wolff brought up potential candidates including Mercedes-backed F2 rookie Kimi Antonelli, retiring Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.
Of course, there’s Carlos, who’s excellent, and Fernando, who’s really dynamic. Thus, there are a handful,” he stated.
