Toto Wolff has firmly dismissed speculation linking Max Verstappen with a move to Mercedes for the 2027 Formula 1 season, stating he is content with his current driver lineup. Speaking at the Austrian Grand Prix, the Mercedes team principal said: "Yeah, we don't want to change things, and I've also said to George that I think it's a lineup that is good for us. We're very happy with the two of them."
Verstappen's Red Bull Uncertainty
Reports emerged at the Red Bull Ring that Verstappen, a four-time world champion, is unsettled at Red Bull and may activate a buy-out clause in his contract to leave next year. The clause reportedly allows him to exit if he finishes outside the top two in the drivers' standings—a scenario that appears increasingly likely as he trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 98 points after the Austrian Grand Prix, where he finished second.
Verstappen has endured a difficult season with Red Bull, including a DNF at the Monaco Grand Prix due to an engine failure. His current contract, worth £50 million per year, runs until 2028, but the performance-related clause could trigger an early departure.
Wolff's Past Pursuit of Verstappen
Wolff had publicly courted Verstappen during the 2025 season, aiming to capitalise on internal tensions at Red Bull between team principal Christian Horner and Verstappen's father, Jos. Horner's departure in June of that year further fuelled speculation. Wolff admitted in 2023 that he had tried to sign Verstappen before he joined Red Bull's driver academy in 2014, saying: "I spoke to Jos and Huub Rothengatter when they came to my office in Brackley... Do I regret missing out on Max? Certainly. But it wasn't an option back in the day."
During the 2025 summer break, Wolff invited Verstappen onto his yacht for a secret meeting in Italy. However, after Verstappen confirmed he would stay with Red Bull for at least 2026, Wolff opted to retain Kimi Antonelli, 19, and George Russell, 27, as his drivers.
Current Mercedes Success
That decision has paid off handsomely: Antonelli has dominated the 2026 season, winning five of the first eight races and leading the drivers' championship by 56 points. Wolff expressed no desire to disrupt the lineup, despite Verstappen's availability.
McLaren has also been linked with Verstappen, with CEO Zak Brown not ruling out a deal. But Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, dismissed reports of an exit, stating: "Of course, there are release clauses, there always have been. But we've never exercised one. We've always been loyal and we will remain so. We want to continue down the path with Red Bull and see Max finish his career here – but of course with the possibility of winning."
