Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has made it clear that he feels "not at all" disappointed by Max Verstappen's decision to sign a new, long‑term agreement with Red Bull that now runs through 2030. The statement came as the Formula 1 calendar prepared to kick off the season again with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, where Verstappen will be defending his home‑race title. Red Bull finally put an end to months of speculation about the four‑time world champion's future by announcing the contract extension. Verstappen's previous deal was due to expire at the end of 2028, but it contained exit clauses that would have allowed the 28‑year‑old to leave the team as early as 2027.
Rumours about potential moves to Mercedes or McLaren swirled throughout the 2026 season, especially after Lewis Hamilton announced in February 2024 that he would leave Mercedes for Ferrari starting in 2025. In the wake of Hamilton's departure, Wolff launched a very public campaign to attract Verstappen to the Silver Arrows. He even hinted that Mercedes remained interested in the Dutch driver during the latter part of the previous season.
However, in recent months Wolff has repeatedly emphasized his satisfaction with the current Mercedes driver lineup – 20‑year‑old Kimi Antonelli and veteran George Russell – who sit first and second in the Drivers' Championship after the Zandvoort race. When asked by Sky Sports F1 about Verstappen's new deal, Wolff responded: "The most important thing was that we have had clarity within the team for a long time. We're fully committed to George and Kimi, and the decision regarding Max was a logical consequence of that clarity. Silly season is officially over, and now everyone can focus on racing." He was directly probed on whether he felt any disappointment about the length of Verstappen's commitment to Red Bull.
Wolff answered without hesitation: "No, not at all. We know each other well.
With Kimi and George, we have the perfect set‑up and the perfect line‑up, so there is no disappointment." Wolff's apparent cooling of interest in Verstappen seems to be influenced by the remarkable form Antonelli has displayed this year. The Italian teenager, who turned 20 earlier this week, has outperformed the more experienced Russell, building a 59‑point lead over his teammate at the top of the standings. Mercedes took a bold step by promoting Antonelli as Hamilton's replacement while he was still a teenager, a move that many pundits initially questioned given his limited experience. Yet his 2026 campaign has shattered expectations: after finishing runner‑up in the season‑opening race, he went on to win five consecutive Grand Prix, breaking several records along the way.
This surge in performance has likely caused Wolff to reassess the necessity of courting Verstappen. The stability and success of the current driver pair may make a high‑profile acquisition less urgent, especially when the team appears to be on a clear trajectory toward both the Drivers' and Constructors' titles.
Across the grid, McLaren also appears content with its driver roster. The British outfit fields reigning world champion Lando Norris alongside Oscar Piastri, a combination that has propelled the team to back‑to‑back Constructors' Championships. Their continuity mirrors Mercedes' approach, suggesting that the era of aggressive driver poaching may be winding down in favour of consolidating successful line‑ups. Former champion Nico Rosberg, now a Sky Sports F1 analyst, praised Verstappen's contract extension, calling it "fantastic news for Formula 1".
Rosberg highlighted Verstappen's status as the sport's top driver and noted that the Dutchman had contemplated taking a break from the sport. He added that while Verstappen had been in talks with McLaren, those discussions were likely a strategic move to strengthen his negotiating position with Red Bull. Rosberg estimated Verstappen's new salary to be in the region of £80 million per year, underscoring the financial commitment Red Bull is making to retain their star. Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar will move to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix on September 4‑6, with live coverage on Sky Sports F1.
As the season progresses, the focus will shift from speculation about driver movements to on‑track battles, with teams like Mercedes and McLaren aiming to capitalize on their stable driver line‑ups while Red Bull looks to maintain its dominance with Verstappen firmly secured for the next several years.