Toto Wolff’s unwillingness to criticise Max Verstappen is being tested to its limit.
In little more than a month, Verstappen has been involved in no fewer than three post-race protests against Wolff’s driver George Russell – and collided with him during the Spanish Grand Prix.Wolff has reacted carefully, slating the Red Bull team but sparing Verstappen from direct criticism. It’s not hard to imagine what’s behind this.
Russell’s current Mercedes deal expires at the end of this season and Verstappen is an obvious target for the team. Wolff indicated as much last year: “2026 is our main year where lots of things change and I think it could be quite attractive to drive with us. But whether it’s Max and whether he can get out of his contract, I don’t know.”
Wolff has missed a chance to sign Verstappen once before and does not want to say anything which might risk putting him off. He knows who he’s preparing his message for – and how carefully it must be crafted.
Any vaguely adverse comment is at risk of being misleadingly regurgitated out of context on social media and picked up by Verstappen. As was the case when he took McLaren’s Zak Brown to task over a six-month-old misquote in Las Vegas last year.
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Therefore, Wolff is not about to come down hard on Verstappen even for provoking contact with one of his cars. “I don’t even know what happened because I just heard that Max was told to let George pass and for me it looked odd that he didn’t make it proper out of turn four,” he prevaricated in Catalunya.
Wolff’s assessment of Verstappen’s dodgier moves hasn’t always been this equivocal. When Verstappen took Hamilton out at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix he called it out as a “tactical foul”.
In Spain he chose softer words for a move that was more blatant if less destructive. But four years ago Wolff already had a multiple champion driving for him; today he’s courting one.
Following the latest skirmish between the two drivers in Canada, Wolff made it clear he blamed Red Bull alone for the post-race protests directed at Russell. “I’m 100% sure it’s not Max,” said Wolff. “He’s a racer. He would never go for a protest on such a trivial thing.”
Whether Verstappen supported Red Bull’s attempt to get a penalty for Russell, and therefore secure his fourth victory of the season, is a matter of conjecture. Verstappen drew Red Bull’s attention to both aspects of Russell’s driving upon which they later lodged protests in Canada. The same was true earlier this year in Miami. Between his comments in the car and his post-race comments to Sky, Verstappen offered different explanations for Russell’s actions.
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Wolff knows from past experience that if a driver doesn’t support a protest they are likely to make their feelings known. In 2016 Mercedes lodged a protest over a move Verstappen made on Hamilton, accusing the Red Bull driver of “[driving] erratically and in a dangerous manner, forcing car 44 [Lewis Hamilton] to take evasive action.” But Wolff’s driver was not impressed.
After learning his team had indeed protested Verstappen, Hamilton deleted his original message and replaced it with one which said: “There is no protest from myself. Just heard the team had but I told them it is not what we do. We are [constructors’] champions, we move on. End of!”
Perhaps Verstappen had similar words with Red Bull which led them to withdraw one of its two protests against Russell on Sunday. The team dropped its claim the Mercedes driver violated the rules by dropping more than 10 car lengths behind the Safety Car.
However this was a straightforward matter of rules compliance which was never likely to result in a penalty for Russell. There was no doubt he was allowed to drop back from the Safety Car when he did. Red Bull’s other protest was a question of interpretation which could have gone either way.
But whether or not Verstappen was pushing for a penalty won’t affect his value to Mercedes. Even if he turns up in Austria and makes it clear Red Bull’s protest had his full backing, Wolff will find some way to smooth it over. Whether it pays off in the end is another matter.
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2025 Canadian Grand Prix
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- Why Alonso was unimpressed with Hamilton at the end of the Canadian GP
Prab
20th June 2025, 8:08
If Verstappen goes to Mercedes, George will go to Aston. Hadjar will be promoted to Redbull with Lindblad getting the Racing Bulls seat. This will kick Stroll out of F1.
George could also go to Redbull making a direct swap but that seems very unlikely.
Alternatively, if George stays and Antonelli leaves, god knows what will happen. But that is again very unlikely.
Hairs_
20th June 2025, 8:59
Mr Stroll literally bought the team to hand his son a seat. The chances of lake losing that seat to anyone is zero.
Russell is doing a reasonable job but he’s nobody’s idea of a star driver. Even when he was beating Hamilton, the buzz was on what Hamilton was doing (or not). The same is true now with Max.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
20th June 2025, 11:32
Russell might be a bit dull but hes a lightening qualifier, rarely makes a mistake and he is very strong mentally. He can win a WDC be in no doubt.
Hairs_
20th June 2025, 11:42
Maybe, but that doesn’t make him a star. Button won one of the most famous WDC, almost retained it, and beat Hamilton over 3 seasons. Still, Hamilton, Vettel and Alonso were the stars during that period.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
20th June 2025, 12:02
i couldnt give a monkeys about ‘star’ power. You win on track not in Heat magazine
N
20th June 2025, 12:44
“and beat Hamilton over 3 seasons.”
With the obvious caveat being Hamilton had much more costly points scoring DNF’s than Button, for example, 5 vs 2 in 2012 with Hamilton retiring from the lead in Singapore while Button retired from the back of the points in Monaco.
but lets not have useful information get in the way of a stat when we need to make a point.
AlanD
20th June 2025, 13:49
Hairs: “Button won one of the most famous WDC”
Famous in the sense that the Brawn car dominated the first half of the season due to exploiting a grey area of the double diffuser rules, and in the second half of the season, when the other cars caught up, people were seriously wondering if Button would get the extra points needed to clinch the title.
Hairs: “almost retained it”
Really? Is my memory playing tricks with me? Didn’t he finish in fifth place, behind the two Red Bulls, Alonso, and his team mate? That’s not what I’d call “almost”.
Hairs: “and beat Hamilton over 3 seasons”
Surely he beat Hamilton in one season, and was beaten by Hamilton in the other two. Is my memory playing tricks with me there too, or are you trying to play tricks with statistics to come up with alternative truths?
SteveP
20th June 2025, 14:16
@AlanD
Your memory and the stats on http://www.formula1.com seem to match:
2010
SV 256 1st
LH 240 4th
JB 214 5th
2011
SV 392 1st
JB 270 2nd
LH 227 5th
2012
SV 281 1st
LH 190 4th
JB 188 5th
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
20th June 2025, 15:35
In summary, alan, I agree with what you said except the 3-season thing: button scored more points, if we want to analyse DNF fine, but in terms of points there’s no doubts, from the stats brought here.
AlanD
20th June 2025, 16:20
Esploratore, but points are only meaningful in the context of a single season, and even within the season they only matter in the terms of position relative to other drivers. If Piastri wins the WDC by one point from Norris this year, do you think Norris is going to console himself by saying “But over three years, I massively outscored him”?
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
20th June 2025, 13:16
+1 N. Its often trotted out this 3 season thing, its total nonsense or maybe i just missed the trophy they give out for beating your team mate over an arbitrary time period
Osnola
20th June 2025, 14:15
If three seasons is arbitrary you are right i guess
SteveP
20th June 2025, 14:33
As per http://www.formula1.com stats – the three season thing is wrong.
@Osnola – not arbitrary, just plain wrong.
One season – 2011, with three DNF for LH vs. 2 DNF for JB
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
20th June 2025, 14:52
WHy isnt it arbitary, literally no one bar Lewis baiters/haters use a 3 year rolling points total. Its so ingrained in you, you think its ok. Its not. Im as big a JB fan as Lewis and any Brit tbh, its not about that, its just nonsense, thats all..
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
20th June 2025, 15:34
Steve, but doesn’t just go for you, how can you say the 3 season stat is wrong? I’m using the stats people brought here: hamilton beat button by 26 points the first season, lost by 43 the 2nd season and won by 2 points the 3rd season, in what world didn’t button score more across the 3 seasons?
I know there’s luck involved and I consider hamilton better, but I think the person was simply comparing the points they scored.
SteveP
20th June 2025, 16:22
@esploratore1
Like @tonymansell I wasn’t aware that there was any kind of award for aggregate points over an indeterminate period.
As AlanD pointed out the DNFs for LH were from good points positions and without those JB wouldn’t have even topped the intra-team stats in 2011. When he was racing, I was a fan of Button too* – quite nice when you have two horses in the race :)
I just see the random three-year aggregate as a stretched stat in an attempt to detract, and we could just as easily take the aggregate scores for two drivers over their whole overlapping time in the sport.
That would prove only that you can make a carefully chosen set of numbers correspond with a pre-determined target.
* These days? Well Lando is a Brit, but doesn’t seem to resonate. Bearman, promising. Hadjar (I’m allowed non-Brits aren’t I?) Piastri – I told you all that he would be Lando’s main problem. :)
Genghis Blond
20th June 2025, 19:32
Maybe because three seasons is the time they were together. What other metric is available? No, I personally don’t think Jenson Button is as good as Lewis, but to call it arbitrary is as subjective as it gets.
Hairs_
20th June 2025, 19:47
“i couldnt give a monkeys about ‘star’ power. You win on track not in Heat magazine”
You’re then going on about how Button winning on points over Hamilton doesn’t count, for some convoluted reason…
Pick a lane, please.
I was putting Russell in the category he belongs: might be a reasonable driver, but nobody is building a team around him or making a big play for his services. As with many drivers (Button included), put him in the fastest car on the grid and he’ll win races and possibly a championship. So, I doubt Wolff is worried that he might upset Russell. Equally, Russell knows the score. He’s not hamilton, or verstappen. If he’s still in a winning car then that’s gravy.
AlanD
20th June 2025, 23:46
Ghengis: “Maybe because three seasons is the time they were together. What other metric is available?”
Do you think that’s the only metric? You could look at the WDC finishing order head to heads, 2 to Hamilton, 1 to Button. Or you could look at how many pole positions they scored in qualifying, for instance, where Hamilton outperforms Button by 9 to 1. Or you could look at head-to-head performance in qualifying where Hamilton outqualified Button by 44 to 14. Qualifying head to head is often regarded as a very good measure as both drivers are trying to extract maximum pace out of the car without the race strategy and race dnf complications. You could also look at race wins over that period, 10 to Hamilton, 8 to Button, or the head to head performance in race conditions, 30 to 28 in favour of Hamilton. Or you could look at points scored which is the most meaningless of all.
So when people make a point of saying Button outscored Hamilton over three years, they are being very selective in what stats they use, which makes others think they are more interested in promoting their anti-Hamilton agenda than truthful insights.
AlanD
20th June 2025, 23:55
N: “in 2012 with Hamilton retiring from the lead in Singapore”
I think in that race that Hamilton’s retirement promoted Button from fourth to third, so not only did it cost LH a possible 25 points, it also meant JB scored an extra 3 points. So yes, DNF in the record book never tells the whole story.
David BR (@david-br)
20th June 2025, 18:48
More likely Russell is underrated and Verstappen slightly overrated (by some) given his lack of any serious intra-team competition. Personally I see Russell as easily better than either Piastri or Norris. Obviously if you mean ‘star driver’ in terms of fan appeal, Verstappen (and Hamilton and probably Leclerc) are higher. But then so too is Norris, apparently.
Another factor: signing Verstappen, dumping Russell and keeping Antonelli does what for the latter? Isn’t he supposed to be the new Max? I think he has huge potential too. so why not keep GR who is leading the team well and allowing Kimi A to flourish?
Of course, this could all be contract ploys between drivers and teams, each looking to show the other they have options.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
21st June 2025, 3:04
Russell isn’t overrated, hes’ just not a made man in F1 like Max is.
Max was ‘chosen’ to win in F1, to supersede Hamilton, that is why Toto is defending him, way more than he would ever defend Hamilton. Because Toto is about F1, not his own team’s success. Toto doesn’t believe in Russell, doesn’t respect Russell, and sees Russell as a way to push Hamilton out of the team. Russell isn’t Kimi, Toto loves Kimi, Toto think Kimi is the next great thing, because Toto can control Kimi, because Kimi isn’t as skilled as Russell.
Toto is a horrible team principle because he doesn’t care if his team wins, only if F1 wins, which means you need a lot of garbage narratives, different winners and losers. Because F1 is a drama produced for TV, not what it used to be, before all the hybrid/Pirelli nonsense.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
21st June 2025, 3:12
also, lets not forget how Max’s racing performance dropped off the face of a cliff last year, like real magically.
Also, don’t be surprised if those gulf investors that bought McLaren, didn’t also buy mercedes power units with party mode perma-settings. Because winning was probably part of the bargain ;)
S Arkazam
20th June 2025, 8:48
Toto seems to forget that George is still his current employee, and all but guaranteed to lose his seat if Max signs with them.
It’s not a nice treat for a boss to so openly court a new guy when the current one is doing all you ask him to do including winning races.
Toto should keep his amorous advances to Max private until he has agreed with George the latter’s next step.
PS Toto and Max (and Jos) will be a very toxic combination, as all seem to be quite short-tempered.
Not a nice environment for Andrea to mature.
anon
20th June 2025, 10:10
It would have the rather entertaining side effect of seeing many of the Max fans that currently criticise Toto suddenly change their allegiance to support him and starting to turn their criticism elsewhere.
It’d be particularly ironic if Russell switched places with Max at Red Bull, given how those fans would then turn from supporting that team and the people there into turning them into a bitter rival.
S Arkazam
20th June 2025, 11:59
That happens all the time, but some only find it ‘entertaining’ when it happens to a group of fans they dislike.
It would be ‘entertaining’ though to see your reaction if Max moves to McLaren. :P
The funny part though is that all those fans will have to buy new coloured shirts or tipex out the name on their current shirt. ;)
kukuku (@winnie)
20th June 2025, 10:34
Your analysis makes a lot of sense.
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
20th June 2025, 11:14
Could also be a negotiation tactic. George is no longer the grateful Mercedes young driver who Merc compensated Williams to take and then gave him his shot. He’s reached the ‘race winner stage’ and presumably George now wants paid. I’m not aware that he brings in much sponsorship. So someone has to pay from somewhere. Toto is a businessman / banker first. Toto courting Max could just be that he wins either way, he gets Max (I still think unlikely) but it certainly takes a lot of leverage and probably a few $millions from George and his team demands.
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
20th June 2025, 9:38
I think Russell would thrive more at Red Bull than Verstappen at Mercedes and hope ot does blow up in Mercedes’ face. But Wolff has been a fairly poor team principal since moving to Mercedes.
Hairs_
20th June 2025, 11:45
Ehhhh what? How many world championships on the trot? Literally one of the most successful team principals ever.
NM
20th June 2025, 12:13
yes, but that isn’t hard when you have an engine much faster then others.
SteveP
20th June 2025, 14:40
Which, with the Ferrari engine cheating, wasn’t true.
Lauder referred to “the complete package” – car, team, driver. Each played their part.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
20th June 2025, 15:40
Yes, all the team was strong, it wasn’t just the engine: many people remember ferrari cheated in some way to get a powerful engine in 2019, but many of those seem to forget mercedes dominated the season DESPITE said illegal engine.
Ferrari only really got a handful of wins and a good number of poles, their reliability was also worse.
Genghis Blond
21st June 2025, 2:52
Ferrari only had the illegal engine for two years and when they were caught, Mercedes had really been pushing. So, their engine was light years ahead of the rest teams. So, it had a great side effect. Toto inherited Ross Brawn’s work and hasn’t done much since they began producing clean sheet designs.
SteveP
21st June 2025, 7:05
I’m sure the Toto/Mercedes detractors have done more to promote the prowess of Mercedes PU’s than anyone else, including Mercedes.
If you’ve ever heard the interviews with Toto* you’d have heard him say that everyone in the factory pushed and pushed to improve to match the Ferrari power and that “it broke” a few people.
He says that with admiration for their loyalty, and then sadness that they discovered afterward that the speed/power they achieved with extreme effort, Ferrari got by a PU cheat or two.
BTW. How long Ferrari were doing whatever they were doing, all hidden in an FIA vault somewhere, is also unknown – two years, five years, somewhere between?
* I assume you’d rather not, and would rather [insert very unfavoured activity]
Coventry Climax
20th June 2025, 10:45
For his entire F1 career sofar, Verstappen has raced cars leaning heavily on aspects other than just the PU.
To then go to a team that may have a strong engine, but what, some five years on now? , still struggles to fully grasp aero both over and under their car, may very well turn out a major deception.
For both Verstappen and Mercedes.
I think it needs more for Verstappen than just being spared by Wolff, to switch teams.
SteveP
20th June 2025, 10:51
I don’t think that’s accurate.
Under (ground effect) – yeah, something of a fail.
Over – Mercedes had so much of a mastery of the airflows from the famous Y250 vortex that the FIA “cheese slice”* removal was clearly targeted to slow them down.
* I think that’s a clear (TM) Kravitz
Coventry Climax
20th June 2025, 13:45
Difference of opinion then.
Mercedes’ Y250 was introduced in 2017. Likely as a result of airtunnel tests to remediate something.
I specifically mentioned ‘what, 5 years or so?’ for a reason.
But whatever, introducing something as it seems to work and fully understanding how it works, are two different matters.
Airflow is by definition around a car, that’s what I meant to say with ‘over and under’. And as has been made sufficiently clear over the past couple of years, they can’t be seen separate from one another.
Mercedes had their zero pod concept for more than a year too long, and tried something we came to call sausage rolls.
It’s not uncommon to see other teams -and their designers- to also investigate such concepts, (for fear of missing out?) but it doesn’t mean these things are always fully understood – or even advantageous.
Only last race Mercedes guys themselves said they still don’t fully understand airflows. But I do give them that they at least try and come up with things, unlike other teams that just copy.
Coventry Climax
20th June 2025, 13:50
Oh, and as I’m not british, I have no idea what Kravitz speak is.
From what I read though, I’m happy to keep it that way. ;-)
SteveP
20th June 2025, 14:46
I thought Sky foisted the same content on a variety of unwilling victims.
It’s a reference to an interview with SV where TK was carrying a large wedge of cheese the same dimensions as the enforced cutout of the floor edge.
Why he didn’t use a sheet of card is a mystery – unless you understand that TK cultivates the image of amiable idiot to lull people into a false sense of security, he’s actually quite a sharp journo and discovers things others don’t because people relax their guard around him.
It’s on youtube if you have any interest.
AlanD
20th June 2025, 14:14
When Mercedes went with their low-rake design, every other team on the grid was basially trying to copy the Red Bull high-rake that Newey always preferred. People say that Newey is the master of aero, but that Mercedes design was winning everything because of the superior under-car aero generating more downforce at the rear of the car. People say it was the Merc engine which was unbeatable. Whilst it undeniably good, Force India had the same engine and their car was often quicker on the straights, but it was the way the Mercedes could turn through the corners that kept it ahead of the pack. The aerodynamicist at Merc at the time was the Frenchman, Eric Martin, who moved to Aston Martin in 2021.
Genghis Blond
21st June 2025, 2:56
So, Mercedes had the best aero because it had more downforce than the Racing Point car? Got it.
Mercedes had an engine advantage, but it was no longer enormous, which is why they were no longer dominant in 2021. That and Max.
SteveP
21st June 2025, 7:18
Think of the “Pink Mercedes” chassis “Tracing Point” produced, a virtual clone of the Mercedes from the previous year and the same PU they’d used the year before, and suddenly they were front-runners.
You can’t pin that on the PU, it has to be the suspension and aero.
Newey. You forgot the backroom star. The one that designs fast cars. A lot, over the course of decades.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
20th June 2025, 11:11
I’m more than sure Max supported Red Bulls protest. If Red Bull (or any team) saw something that could’ve lead to a penalty, they would protest. And every driver would be fully onboard.
F1 will always be about who can make the most out of everything. Teams don’t necessarily have to go crying to the FIA, that’s how Toto puts it. It can be a protest which was dismissed and nothing else. It’s just the name of the game, Mercedes would’ve done the same.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
20th June 2025, 11:33
Cant be long before Toto is seen enjoying a delicious can of Red Bull with logo facing the camera
Coventry Climax
20th June 2025, 13:52
Do they plan to market a new taste then? ;-)
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
20th June 2025, 14:54
Yeh its got a bitter after taste and only one can is any good
David BR (@david-br)
20th June 2025, 16:13
@tonymansell :)
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
20th June 2025, 14:40
Max will always be the one who got away for Toto. But my gut feeling is that Wolff wants to destabilise Red Bull rather than courting Verstappen. Max is certainly desirable, but I’d argue Mercedes have the best balance and wage package for their drivers than anyone other than McLaren. George is almost flawless the past season and a half Kimi is doing a very impressive job as a number 2 for the next few seasons. This looks to me to be a way to get Russell to commit, cheaply – as he must have looked at moving to Aston.
I think the top drivers will stay put for 2026 and Max will be the lynchpin for 2027. Fernando will retire and Max will join Newey and Honda. Lewis will stay for 2027 and be replaced by Bearman. Lando will replace Max, next to Hadjar and potentially Alex Dunne will be Oscar’s number 2.
Any other musical chairs seem a bit farfetched to me. I don’t think Stroll Snr would accept Russell unless Max is at Mercedes. I think Max should call time on his Red Bull journey and I can’t see Ferrari being attractive to Max when Aston and Merc are on the table. If Horner ends up at Maranello then who knows but with the current teams I don’t expect a huge market change.
SteveP
20th June 2025, 15:43
He said as much in an interview.
Barring surprises, probably broadly correct, but Lando to RBR is probably a stretch. More likely a Hadjar & Lindblad pairing.
I suppose if Oscar really shines, then Lando would want to be elsewhere, but find no room-at-the-inn. Not sure that Dunne is setting the world afire, though.
Piastri, Hadjar, Bearman, Lindblad could make for an interesting front end of grid.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
20th June 2025, 15:54
I think something will break at McLaren. You can’t have 2 top talents fighting for titles for 2 years without there being a bust up. Red bull will need to recruit from the top of the table and Lando will have spent 8 seasons there and think it’s time to move on. Marko is supposedly a big fan too.
Regarding Dunne, I think he’s doing fine. A couple of wins, Monaco pole, 2nd place from 19th in Spain. He’s made some horrific errors like the start in Monaco but he’s leading the championship and always looks a threat in a poor grid. I think McLaren will end up in the Alpine mode where sooner or later they need to promote internally, he seems the obvious choice as Bortoleto should stay at Audi. It depends whether Dunne wants to spend 26 as reserve in the hope Lando moves on or ends up Drugoviched.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
20th June 2025, 15:45
Yes, I don’t think there’s much reason to change things at mercedes, especially if antonelli continues performing like he did in canada.
However, from your comment, it seems you expect verstappen to leave red bull but don’t mention any team he could go to, I doubt he’d leave red bull to retire, he will go somewhere, and that place is likely to be competitive, else no point leaving red bull.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
20th June 2025, 15:46
Ah, nevermind, only saw upon re-reading about verstappen going to aston, makes sense since he had the honda engine before and won championships with it, and also since alonso is old by now.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
20th June 2025, 15:53
I think something will break at McLaren. You can’t have 2 top talents fighting for titles for 2 years without there being a bust up. Red bull will need to recruit from the top of the table and Lando will have spent 8 seasons there and think it’s time to move on. Marko is supposedly a big fan too.
Regarding Dunne, I think he’s doing fine. A couple of wins, Monaco pole, 2nd place from 19th in Spain. He’s made some horrific errors like the start in Monaco but he’s leading the championship and always looks a threat in a poor grid. I think McLaren will end up in the Alpine mode where sooner or later they need to promote internally, he seems the obvious choice as Bortoleto should stay at Audi. It depends whether Dunne wants to spend 26 as reserve in the hope Lando moves on or ends up Drugoviched.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
20th June 2025, 15:54
Ignore -meant to be a reply to Steve
SteveP
20th June 2025, 19:45
S’Okay, sometimes I need telling more than once :)
Steve Rogers (@beeflin)
21st June 2025, 15:36
Toto doesn’t need Max, wouldn’t suit Max and should stop grovelling.
Steve Rogers (@beeflin)
21st June 2025, 15:37
(Meant as a fresh comment not a reply)
RyanDixon (@ryandixon)
20th June 2025, 16:01
Toto keeping all options on the table is a sensible thing to do; why would you close off this avenue if the driver wants it? If he closed off this option, then Max leaves Red Bull to a rival, Toto would look a very silly man to say the very least.
I do find this to be a political manoeuvre rather than a genuine flirtation with Verstappen. Red Bull have been on the ropes fairly recently with the upheaval in the team right from the design genius leaving, the team principle being a naughty boy, the best staff being headhunted by other teams, the Red Bull leaders being intolerable, Max and, mainly Jos, holding court on all matters. Toto, in my view, is keeping the pot stirred by showing Max and his team that maybe the grass is greener (and calmer) on the other side.
Win7Golf (@win7golf)
20th June 2025, 18:43
If Mercedes drops George and puts Max there, their brand will suffer badly and their car sales too.
Don’t even think about it, Toto!
Genghis Blond
21st June 2025, 3:07
It won’t change anything about their car sales. What are you on?
Mayrton
21st June 2025, 8:54
I feel that ship has sailed already in 2021 when Wolff himself destroyed the Mercedes brand with his antics that are frankly beyond anything I have ever seen from a person that is supposed to lead a team. He misbehaved that season and on top of that failed to capitalise on them winning the WCC (for the 8th year in a row; imagine how much good marketing could have come from that). If there wasn’t the shares thing, him owning parts, he would have been fired instantly by the Board of Mercedes. I do not wish my worst enemy to be paired (put in a team) with this man.
The Dolphins
21st June 2025, 3:19
Toto is wasting his breath, Max is interested in a) who will be dominant in 2026+ b) are they also a WEC hypercar constructor given his interest in the series. Aston Martin and Ferrari seem to fit the bill, it’s most likely we see him in the former given his relationship with Adrian and the Mercedes PUs — Alonso/Max/Stroll in a Valkyrie would be an entertaining LeMans entry.
SteveP
21st June 2025, 12:14
A balanced slow/medium/fast driver combo then?
Or should we all stop picking on Stroll?