Toto Wolff has decided to turn the page. After months of rumors and negotiations involving Max Verstappen, the Mercedes team principal has acknowledged an important lesson learned.
“The truth is, you have to learn from your mistakes,” Toto Wolff told Sky F1. “There was no intentional flirtation. It was just a coincidence. But in the end, we created uncertainty, and that was not positive for anyone.”
The confirmation of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for the next season has closed a turbulent chapter, during which the four-time Dutch champion’s name was repeatedly linked to the Brackley team. “Everything is settled now, contracts are signed, and we can move forward,” Wolff added.
Mercedes focuses fully on Antonelli and Russell
The Austrian manager acknowledged that the long negotiation period had fueled internal tensions within the team: “During the summer, everything still seemed up in the air. This destabilized the environment, but now the situation is clear.”
While admitting that a Max Verstappen-George Russell pairing would have been “a spectacle for everyone,” Wolff reiterated his full confidence in the current duo: “Kimi and George are our future. We do not want to fuel other rumors, we have a solid line-up aligned with our goals.”
This marks a clear change of tone compared to previous months, when the door for Verstappen still seemed slightly open. Now, Toto Wolff is focusing on stability and experience to bring Mercedes back to the top: “We have learned, we have recovered, and we are ready to build again.”
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