F1 News: While Wolff salivates over Verstappen, Max staying put

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has been salivating over the possibility of landing perhaps the greatest driver in history, Max Verstappen. Won’t happen.

Mercedes would do handstands to have Red Bull’s triple world champion Max Verstappen driving for them, but first they need a car worthy of his talents, team boss Toto Wolff said on Saturday.

“I’d love to have him (Verstappen),” Wolff, who has a vacancy for 2025 following Lewis Hamilton’s decision to move to Ferrari, told reporters.

“But first we need to sort out our car. I think we owe it to our drivers George (Russell) and Lewis to improve the car and give them equipment that is good before dreaming about the future next year.”

Asked if Verstappen was the top target, Wolff replied: “This is a decision that Max needs to take and there is no team up and down the grid who wouldn’t do handstands to have him in the car.”

Wolff said Verstappen, his father Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen were “very straight – sometimes uncomfortably straight”, adding: “That is something they will make up their minds (about), but fundamentally a racing driver is calibrated to be in the best car.

Red Bull F1 Team Boss Christian Horner said: “I can’t see any reason why anybody [meaning Verstappen]  would want to step out of this team. He [Verstappen] has great support around him, and he is doing a wonderful job with a great car.

“No individual is bigger than the team. We have a phenomenal car. We have one seat open for next year. I have 16 drivers desperate to be in that car. Checo (Sergio Perez) is in pole position, it is his seat to lose. We have a strong relationship with Max, he is doing a wonderful job and our focus is on track.

“We listen to whatever Max has to say, but the team will always make the right decisions for the team.”