Toto Wolff calls Verstappen interest coincidence

The caput of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, revealed that helium "managed the concern successful the operator marketplace for 2026 successful the astir nonstop and honorable way". Although galore media accused him of showing involvement successful Max Verstappen, helium points retired that it was "just a coincidence". 

During the summer, according to reports, Wolff tried to cheque the anticipation of the four-time satellite champion coming to Mercedes, but Verstappen was incapable to activate the aboriginal termination clause of his declaration with Red Bull. This temporarily called into question the presumption of George Russell and the young Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

In the end, Mercedes confirmed an unchanged operator line-up, and Wolff admitted to Sky Sports F1: "I volition larn from that mistake. There was nary deliberate amusement of interest. It was conscionable a coincidence. The full uncertainty was destabilizing for everyone, but I've ever tried to beryllium unfastened and transparent. That's the champion mode forward, adjacent though it tin wound you sometimes. Looking back, immoderate things could person been amended - but everything was done successful the astir honorable and astir sincerely."

When asked astir the dilemma during the negotiations, Wolff added: 

"I ever basal down the prime of operator - down George and Kimi. That was our extremity adjacent successful those hard summertime weeks. We knew George could instrumentality a enactment relation successful the squad and Kimi is successful the learning phase."

Although Verstappen soon dropped retired of the market, it took Mercedes much than 2 months to finalize the 2026 contracts, which was slowed by Russell's promotional commitments. 

Decision

Wolff claims that the last determination was "obvious" and that "there was ne'er immoderate doubt" astir Antonelli's potential. "It was a determination from the start. He has an outstanding inferior grounds and the close personality. There was nary uncertainty successful my caput oregon successful the squad that it was incorrect to springiness him a chance."

Antonelli has finished successful the apical 5 successful the past 2 races, which Wolff sees arsenic confirmation that the young Italian is progressively competitive. 

"There are 5 oregon six races near - tracks helium doesn't cognize yet, including Austin. I'm definite we'll spot bully results, but besides pugnacious weekends. However, each that volition beryllium reset astatine the opening of adjacent season, erstwhile everyone gets caller cars. He'll cognize the tracks then, and he'll recognize amended however to negociate the unit of the media and everyone pursuing him. That was the extremity this twelvemonth - to larn precisely that."