"I don't think there will be any big surprises": Toto Wolff cools Max Verstappen's track at Mercedes

Will Max Verstappen join Mercedes ? It's not exactly looking like he's moving forward, according to team boss Toto Wolff's interview with Austrian broadcaster ORF on Wednesday. "You can't ignore a driver like Max and his plans for the future. We've thought about it, but I don't think there will be any big surprises," the 53-year-old said.

He also downplayed the fact that he and the Dutch four-time world champion were seen vacationing together in Sardinia in July. "If you go on vacation near each other, it doesn't mean you're also going to work together in Formula 1, " he said. "We've always gotten along well. We just tend to spend our holidays in similar places."

Wolff's plan is to continue next season with his current drivers George Russell (4th with 147 points) and Kimi Antonelli (7th with 63 points). "The direction we're taking is to continue with George and Kimi. That's our priority." Russell's contract expires at the end of the season, although he is also managed by Mercedes. As for Antonelli, an 18-year-old rookie, he joined the team this year and is considered a great prospect for the future.

Verstappen currently sits third at the halfway point of the 24-race championship, 69 points behind current leader Oscar Piastri (McLaren) (234 points) and 61 behind his Australian teammate Lando Norris. The Dutchman's dream of a fifth consecutive title is fading, and with the arrival of a new engine era in 2026, where Mercedes' is expected to be the most efficient, rumors have circulated about a possible Verstappen move. These speculations intensified following the dismissal of longtime Red Bull boss Christian Horner this month.