Max Verstappen, the talented driver from Red Bull Racing, has secured pole position in the Australian Grand Prix. This impressive achievement has caught the attention of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who has expressed interest in signing Verstappen for the 2025 season. However, Wolff acknowledges that Verstappen alone would not solve all of Mercedes’ current problems in Formula 1.
Mercedes is currently evaluating its options to replace Lewis Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari. Despite the speculation surrounding Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes, Wolff emphasizes that there are other candidates to consider as well. Verstappen has been highly successful in recent years, winning 41 races and becoming a three-time World Champion with Red Bull. This has made him an attractive prospect for many teams, including Mercedes.
The tension within Red Bull, particularly due to the investigation into Christian Horner, has fueled rumors of Verstappen’s possible switch to Mercedes. However, Wolff believes that the performance of Mercedes’ car is a more significant factor than the drivers themselves. He acknowledges Verstappen’s exceptional skills but emphasizes the importance of addressing the team’s car performance issues. Wolff believes that solving these issues would benefit both Verstappen and George Russell, who has the potential to become a World Champion.
Mercedes has had a disappointing start to the current season, with their revamped W15 car failing to meet expectations. Hamilton has struggled with unpredictable balance issues, which led to his elimination in the Q2 session of the Australian Grand Prix. Despite this, Wolff does not view Verstappen as a guaranteed solution to Mercedes’ problems. He recognizes Verstappen’s extraordinary talent but acknowledges that the team would need to provide him with a challenging car setup. Wolff believes that focusing on improving the car’s performance is crucial for success, rather than solely relying on a talented driver like Verstappen.
Verstappen has announced his intention to fulfill his existing Red Bull agreement until 2028, while Wolff stated that the summer is the latest deadline to finalize their team lineup.
In other news, Mercedes prospect Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is currently competing in his first Formula 2 season, has been suggested as a potential direct promotion to the Mercedes Formula 1 team.
“We have a young talent who shows great promise. I don’t want to add extra pressure, but it seems like he has the potential to become one of the greats,” Wolff admitted.
“However, we also don’t want to rush him into an F1 car too quickly. He is only 17 years old, so we have a few options to consider.”
If Mercedes decides against placing Antonelli in a works seat, Wolff has identified Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz as viable alternatives.
Alonso, a two-time F1 champion, is in the final year of his Aston Martin contract, while Sainz, the winner of the Australian Grand Prix, will be leaving his Ferrari seat for Hamilton.
“Obviously Fernando is a very exciting option. Carlos is also very talented,” Wolff continued. “So we have a few candidates to consider.”