Wolff brushes off the latest Verstappen rumors.

      Toto Wolff has dismissed recent rumors suggesting Max Verstappen might join Mercedes, asserting that he sees no reason to consider a driver change. Speculations have emerged that Verstappen, who has voiced his frustration with the 2026 regulations and is currently not competitive at Red Bull, could be a target for 2027, potentially replacing championship leader George Russell as Mercedes begins a dominant phase under the new regulations.

      However, Wolff clarified that he is not contemplating this possibility. "What’s astonishing is that these absurd rumors are already appearing in March," he told Osterreich. "It usually takes discussions like this until July. I’m not sure who brought this up again.

      "We have two drivers tied to long-term, multi-year contracts, and I couldn't be more satisfied with either of them. Both are delivering exceptional performances, so there's absolutely no reason to even think about a lineup change or other drivers. I say this with the utmost respect for Max."

      The speculation has been partly fueled by Verstappen’s increased connections with Mercedes machinery outside of Formula 1, such as his GT3 program and reported involvement in developing the company’s next GT3 model. Nonetheless, Wolff emphasized that his focus remains on his current drivers, particularly the promising Kimi Antonelli.

      "You must remember that we faced criticism for over a year—people said he was too young and made too many errors," Wolff remarked. "We put in a lot of hard work together.

      "We’ve just had a fantastic moment in China, but there will also be races where things don’t go as planned. That’s part of the sport."

      Despite Antonelli's recent victory, Wolff advised prudence regarding expectations for a title challenge with Russell. "No, it’s much too early to discuss that," he said when asked about a potential title battle. "We’re only at the second race of the season, and he won that one.

      "We're in an excellent position: we have a veteran and a young driver for the future—that makes for a dream pairing."

      Wolff also downplayed the importance of appointing Bradley Lord as co-team principal, referring to the decision as a means to manage the increasing demands of his role. "For me, nothing really changes," he stated. "I remain team principal.

      "Bradley makes my life much easier, as I wouldn’t be able to cope with the ever-growing workload otherwise."