Mercedes boss shares thoughts on signing Max Verstappen for 2027
Toto Wolff has put to rest the idea that Mercedes might try to sign Max Verstappen for the 2027 Formula 1 season. There’s been lots of talk about Verstappen’s future at Red Bull Racing, especially since he could end his contract early this year.
The 28-year-old has a clause allowing him to leave if he isn’t in the top two in the standings when the season pauses for the summer break next month. Right now, Verstappen is seventh in the rankings after finishing fourth at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Red Bull will be looking to turn things around with a win at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, followed by races in Britain, Belgium, and Hungary before the break in July.
Mercedes had to change their driver lineup for 2025 after Lewis Hamilton made a surprising move to Ferrari. Kimi Antonelli was chosen to be George Russell’s new teammate. Last year, Wolff admitted they were interested in Verstappen but decided to stick with Antonelli and Russell for another season.
That decision seems to be working well—Antonelli is leading the F1 rankings with five wins and six podiums so far. He’s ahead of Hamilton by 41 points and Russell by 50, while Verstappen trails the leader by 101 points.
If Verstappen did become available, it would create a tricky situation for Mercedes. He’s a four-time world champion and still a top star, but Antonelli is rising fast, and Russell is under contract until 2027. In fact, Antonelli is the only one whose deal is ending soon.
Speaking during the Austrian GP weekend, Wolff dismissed the idea of signing Verstappen at the cost of either current driver.
“We don’t want to change things,” he said. “We’ve told George the same, and I think this lineup works well for us. I’m very happy with both of them.”
When asked about his drivers’ chemistry, Wolff added, “In F1 you have to be tough and believe in yourself. George is especially good at that. Through ups and downs, he’s always found a way to come back and win.
“Kimi is clearly very fast—that’s why we hired him—and the same goes for George.”