Last year, after Ferrari announced the signing of Lewis Hamilton for 2025, Mercedes began searching for a strong replacement. For months, rumors circulated that the Silver Arrows were targeting four-time World Champion Max Verstappen, but Toto Wolff recently revealed that there was never a concrete plan to bring the Dutchman onboard.
The speculation fueling rumors of Max Verstappen’s possible departure from Red Bull revolved around the investigation into team principal Christian Horner, who was later cleared of any wrongdoing. Shortly after, reports surfaced about a power struggle between Horner and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, culminating in a public clash between Horner and Jos Verstappen, Max’s father.
In addition to these “off-track” issues, the car also showed performance limitations: Max came close to losing the title, particularly when he failed to secure a win for ten consecutive races in the second half of the Formula 1 season. Despite this, the reigning champion managed to defend his World Championship title, though the Constructors’ Championship was won by McLaren.
In an interview with *AMuS*, Toto Wolff stated: “There was never a plan to sign Verstappen. We always kept the lines of communication open. At one point, he told us that he wanted to stay where he was because it felt right for him, and I replied that we would choose Kimi Antonelli because it was also the right choice for us. We’ll see where this decision takes us.” – the Mercedes team boss concluded.
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