Toto Wolff responds to Max Verstappen rumours after George Russell axe threat

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has had his say on speculation linking Max Verstappen with a move to the team

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has expressed his surprise at having to respond to speculation linking Max Verstappen with a switch from Red Bull to Mercedes, despite the season being only a few weeks old. He’s dismissed suggestions of a move for the four-time Formula 1 world champion and insisted he’s happy with his driver line-up.

His comments come fresh off the back of George Russell being warned of the axe, with several names in F1 speculating that his seat may not be safe long-term.

Mercedes have harboured a longstanding interest in Verstappen, dating back well before his F1 debut, though they lost out to Red Bull for his services. Online speculation has emerged connecting Verstappen with a dramatic switch to Mercedes, following his public expressions of discontent with Red Bull on multiple occasions, even suggesting potential retirement from the sport.

Wolff told OE24: “The astonishing thing is that these silly rumours are already surfacing in March. It’s silly enough that you normally have to discuss these things in July. I don’t know who brought this up again.

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“We have two drivers with whom we have long-term, multi-year contracts. I could not be happier with either of them. Both are delivering top performances.

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“So, there is absolutely no reason to even consider a line-up change, or other drivers. I say this with the utmost respect for Max.”

However, former Sauber and Jaguar driver Herbert, who was a regular presence on the F1 grid throughout the 1990s, believes that Russell could be released by Mercedes earlier than anticipated.

Herbert, speaking on the Stay On Track podcast alongside Damon Hill, said: “I’ve heard little rumours again that with Max not being very happy where he is… is he going to be taken by Mercedes, which means they are going to get rid of George.”

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Hill responded: “So George is always temporary.” Despite both Russell and Antonelli having secured victories and runner-up finishes this season, the Briton maintains a four-point lead over his team-mate in the Drivers’ Standings courtesy of his sprint race win in China.

Antonelli came home behind Russell in second place in Australia before clinching victory in the season’s second race at the Shanghai International Circuit. And 1996 F1 world champion Hill has questioned whether Antonelli, 19, has now overtaken Russell to become Mercedes’ favoured driver.

“Kimi is Toto’s protégé, if you like. He’s put his reputation on the line to get this guy in,” Hill said. “Kimi doesn’t want to let him down, but at the same time, he’s thankful to Toto, and Toto’s delighted that he’s now won a race.

“Meanwhile, George has been trying his very best to impress them for now I don’t know how many seasons. It got to a point last year where they had to re-sign and it went on a bit. It wasn’t like Toto was desperate to re-sign George.”