Wolff feels uncomfortable regarding Verstappen as Mercedes shifts focus.

      "He’s competing in a Mercedes during the crucial races."

      Toto Wolff provided a notably uncomfortable reply at Zandvoort when questioned about Max Verstappen's new Red Bull contract, as the Dutchman's long-standing association with Mercedes seems to have finally ended. "What can I say about it?" the Mercedes team principal chuckled when Viaplay mentioned Verstappen’s agreement through 2030. "I’m sure Raymond (Vermeulen) did a very good job. And, and, and... let’s see," Wolff continued.

      He then quipped that Mercedes still has some connection to Verstappen via his growing activities outside of Formula 1. "We have the best of Max," the Austrian remarked. "He’s racing a Mercedes in the key events, at the Nordschleife. Perhaps there will be more races. He remains part of the Mercedes family."

      Red Bull director Laurent Mekies also playfully referenced the ongoing speculation regarding whether Verstappen would activate an exit clause instead of actually extending his deal. "The last thing he said when we settled everything was, ‘You see, guys, I’ve always said I wanted to stay’," the Frenchman noted.

      At Mercedes, George Russell maintains that the rumors about Verstappen never made him anxious about his own position. "That’s simply the nature of the sport," said the Zandvoort sprint pole sitter. "Drivers converse with various teams, and teams communicate with different drivers. But, yes, my position never felt threatened, and I had 100 percent confidence in Toto and the team, which obviously continues now."

      Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, expressed that he wouldn't have felt intimidated by Verstappen joining his team. "I wouldn’t have minded having him as a teammate," he stated. "It would have been very challenging and demanding for me, but also motivating, as competing against the best helps you gauge your own level," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Who knows, maybe in the future."

      Currently, the championship leader is paired with Russell, who returned from the summer break with sprint pole at Zandvoort. Former Haas team principal Gunther Steiner believes Antonelli is already strong enough that Mercedes should refrain from interfering in the title race with team orders. "You can see that he doesn’t really need to learn anything more from George," he remarked. "Kimi is prepared to win. Logically, things can become explosive, regardless of how much you try to manage it." "In this situation, I think George is more likely to explode than Kimi."

      Meanwhile, Verstappen himself may not be feeling entirely well at his home Grand Prix. Viaplay analyst Giedo van der Garde pointed out that Verstappen appeared pale and unwell on Thursday, while Christijan Albers noted that several sponsor and media engagements were canceled. "I don’t think he’s fit," Van der Garde stated.