Toto Wolff jokes with Max Verstappen’s manager during Mercedes talks

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Max Verstappen remains on Mercedes’ radar, after they missed out on signing him for the 2026 F1 season, but could move to them in 2027

Mercedes have missed out on their chance to sign Max Verstappen for the 2026 F1 season, yet the Red Bull racer remains on their radar for a potential move for 2027.

Verstappen’s contract release clause is not valid yet, so a deal was never likely to happen despite Mercedes’ interest. George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are still not under contract beyond 2025, which prompted the Silver Arrows to explore all options.

READ MORE: Hamilton faces Ferrari struggles with paddock questioning his trademark spark

Verstappen ended any speculation over his short-term future by saying “I’m staying” at Red Bull ahead of the summer break. He went into that period sitting behind both Norris and Leclerc in the standings.

The release clause becomes easier to trigger next summer, as it would only require him to finish outside the top two in the standings.

Toto Wolff jokes with Max Verstappen’s manager about Mercedes payment if 2026 F1 car dominates

With 2026 bringing in a fresh set of rules covering engines, chassis, aerodynamics, and tyres, the competitive landscape could shift. Early predictions suggest that Mercedes might come out on top with their new power unit, especially given the move to an even split between electrical and combustion power.

Meanwhile, Red Bull are facing challenges as they develop their first in-house engine. With Honda moving over to Aston Martin, Red Bull has turned to a technical partnership with Ford for assistance.

During talks about a potential move for 2026, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff made light of the situation by suggesting to Verstappen’s manager that waiting until 2027 might work out better for both sides if Mercedes end up leading the pack.

Wolff told De Limburger: “I told his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, that if we have the best car next year, we’ll only have to pay 10% of that €100million (£86.5m), ha ha.” “[Vermeulen replied], ‘You’re a cheap Austrian’. I replied that he’s a greedy Dutchman.”

Toto Wolff never expected Verstappen to join Mercedes for 2026

Wolff wasn’t expecting a move to happen that soon, though, since Verstappen would’ve needed to be outside the top three in the 2025 standings by this summer. But if Mercedes delivers on their engine expectations, 2027 might be a different story.

There could also be more than one team interested if Verstappen does find a way out of his Red Bull deal early, which currently runs through the 2028 season. Ferrari would almost certainly make a move if Lewis Hamilton retires when his contract ends next year.

Should Verstappen ever become available, he’d immediately be the top target on the grid. The four-time champion already ranks third all-time in Grand Prix wins (65), fourth in podiums (117), and fifth in pole positions (44), with success rates of 29.15%, 52.47%, and 19.73% respectively.