Toto Wolff - Mercedes pursued the Red Bull driver when Lewis Hamilton’s departure was announced but Wolff is now committed to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

Mercedes team principal and chief executive Toto Wolff has denied rumors on the eve of the Australian Grand Prix weekend that he's still seeking to sign reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen for 2026.

Max Verstappen was targeted by Toto Wolff last year in the months after Lewis Hamilton announced he was quitting Mercedes for Ferrari, before settling for teenager Kimi Antonelli

Toto Wolff says signing F1 world champion Max Verstappen is no longer on Mercedes’ radar. Mercedes spent much of last year publicly courting Verstappen as they searched for a replacement for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton after his bombshell decision to join Ferrari, before eventually promoting teenage prodigy Kimi Antonelli.

Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff says a pitch to sign Max Verstappen for 2026 is "not on any radar". George Russell's Mercedes contract runs out at the end of this season and Wolff had talks with Verstappen last year before opting for Italian 18-year-old rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who has moved to Ferrari.

Our competitors finished 2024 strongly and we know that Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren in particular, should have a performance advantage over us initially.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff ruled out renewing interest in a move for reigning four-time World Champion Max Verstappen. And in-line with his commitment to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli as the future for Mercedes in F1,

Toto Wolff has put an end to the speculation surrounding a potential move for Max Verstappen to Mercedes. The team boss has stated that he is satisfied with his current driver lineup, consisting of George Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli,