Mercedes have confirmed that Kimi Antonelli will race alongside George Russell next season. The 18-year-old will be one of the most highly anticipated rookies in F1 history. However, owing to Antonelli’s age, Toto Wolff was previously considering other options for 2025 – including Max Verstappen. Although Verstappen is currently off the table, Wolff does not discount negotiations in the future.
Toto Wolff on Antonelli deal, Verstappen talks
Wolff admits there could be more “flirting” with Verstappen
At the beginning of the year, several drivers were linked to Mercedes. Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz were among those mentioned by Toto Wolff as candidates for next season. However, the person that Wolff spoke about most frequently was undoubtedly Verstappen.
Initially, Wolff’s repeated mentions of the Dutchman seemed little more than an attempt to further destabilise Red Bull. The RB20 was still a dominant force when 2024 began, but the team’s internal power struggle created clear rifts within the team.
However, as the year progressed, Mercedes became increasingly competitive.
With the W15 going on to secure multiple race wins, the idea of Verstappen joining Mercedes appeared slightly more plausible.
Whilst a deal was never close to being signed, Toto Wolff admits the 3-time Champion was a genuine target.
He also concedes that, whilst committed to Antonelli and Russell, Verstappen could still be acquired in the long term.
“We were discussing with other options, and the Max idea couldn’t be discounted completely, looking at what happened at Red Bull,” he told the media in Italy.
“This is a pressure cooker. I say there’s always has been a pressure cooker, but this is where we stand as a team today. We want to go with these two.
“All of our focus in the team is on George and Kimi.”
When pressed about the future, Toto Wolff said he would be honest about any talks with drivers outside of Russell and Antonelli.
“There’s no discussion, there’s no second thoughts about what we’re doing in 2026 – because now it’s about 2024 and 2025.
“If flirting outside happens, then these guys will know it at the same time, when we have those discussions.”
Mercedes prepare for 2025 and 2026
Despite failing to contend for victory last weekend, Mercedes can still be pleased with their overall trajectory. After spending last season trying to fix a fundamentally wrong concept, the team is now firmly in the battle at the front.
Victories should still be possible before the end of 2024, whilst there is also a strong foundation to build upon for next season.
Owing to the proximity of the 2026 regulations, the pecking order next season should be an extension of what it is at the end of this year’s campaign.
Because of this, Mercedes should be competitive in 2025. This means they can divert their resources to the new 2026 cars without compromising anything in the short term. Much like the rest of the field, Mercedes have a lot at stake when the new regulations arrive.
This is particularly true as an engine manufacturer, with Toto Wolff’s team in a position to put themselves in a winning position from day one.
Then again, the performance McLaren are showing is a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted.
Although they have every reason to succeed, Mercedes must put everything together. By doing this, regardless of whether they are still interested in pursuing Verstappen, they can give themselves plenty of leverage.
