Mercedes ‘super happy’ with Formula One line-up and no talks with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen

JEDDAH – Mercedes are “super happy” with their Formula One driver line-up and have had no conversation with Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen about a switch, team boss Toto Wolff said on April 19.

The Austrian told Sky Sports television at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix that George Russell, out of contract at the end of 2025, was doing a top job and was on the same level as the Dutch driver.

“I always say I don’t flirt outside if I’m happy in the relationship on a professional level,” said Wolff of his drivers.

“I’m super happy with the line-up we have, I couldn’t wish for anything better. Max is at Red Bull, we haven’t had a conversation, we are continuing our trajectory.”

Wolff said Russell was delivering and was fourth in the drivers’ championship ahead of the Saudi race, which took place after press time, but still within striking distance of McLaren’s leader Lando Norris.

Verstappen qualified in pole for the Jeddah race ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, while Russell was third.

“He’s been performing in the car to the maximum and is doing great. George is on Max’s level,” he said.

Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli, 18, has also made headlines as the youngest F1 driver to lead a race and set the fastest lap.

Verstappen’s future has been a hot topic since Red Bull’s adviser Helmut Marko said the team were concerned that the 27-year-old, who has a contract until 2028 subject to exit clauses, could leave at the end of the season.

Wolff spoke several times of his interest in signing Verstappen last season, when he was looking for a replacement for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Team boss Christian Horner said on April 18 that Verstappen would be at Red Bull next season after the Dutchman said he was not thinking about his future.

Horner added: “People will always have their concerns. As a team we are focused on sorting the car out. Sort the car out and it doesn’t even become a discussion point.”

Williams boss James Vowles noted on April 18 that signing Verstappen would come with “a lot of downsides”.

Vowles, who was motor sports strategy director at Mercedes and a close confident of Wolff before joining Mercedes-powered Williams in 2023, suggested Russell and Antonelli were the better bet.

“I’m not Toto, but I think he’s got a really good driver line-up for the future,” he told reporters over brunch in Jeddah.

“(Verstappen winning in) Japan was for me jaw-dropping, well done to him, but he comes with a lot of downsides as well that you have to acknowledge.”

Vowles worked closely with Antonelli while the Italian was in the junior ranks.

“He’s making steps every single week and he’s only driven effectively four grand prix races,” he said. “He’s on a good pathway to be very, very competitive, so you keep investing in that.

“And George is delivering... you can’t really fault anything he’s done this year.”

Russell and Verstappen also had a public falling-out last season and Vowles doubted putting them together would work.

The latest media reports have focused on Aston Martin, a move that would reunite Verstappen with former Red Bull designer Adrian Newey and engine partner Honda.

Honda are leaving Red Bull at the end of 2025 to enter a new engine era in an exclusive partnership with Aston Martin.

Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper suggested, without sourcing their information, that Aston Martin were ready to offer Verstappen US$88 million (S$115.4 million) a year for three years with Saudi funding.

Aston Martin, controlled by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, have Saudi energy giant Aramco as title sponsor. REUTERS