Max Verstappen F1: Wolff addresses rumors about meeting with the Red Bull driver

Rumors are circulating that Red Bull Racing driver and reigning world champion Max Verstappen will sit down with Mercedes executives, including Toto Wolff, after the F1 Grand Prix of Miami. The team boss of the Silver arrows has now responded to the rumors.

Lewis Hamilton announced during the winter break that he would leave Mercedes after 2024 and switch to Ferrari. The Brit has always raced with a Mercedes power source since his debut in the premier class of motorsport in 2007, first with McLaren and from 2013 with the Mercedes team itself. He won the world titles in 2008, 2014, 2015 and from 2017 to 2020. But apart from one victory by George Russell a year and a half ago, it has been one disappointment after another at Mercedes since the introduction of the current technical regulations. and Hamilton labeled the 2024 start to the season as his “worst ever”. It is not yet known who will be Russell’s new teammate, but Wolff has previously admitted that Verstappen is on his list.

Article continues below video

ALSO INTERESTING: ‘Mercedes able to offer Verstappen the highest salary ever in F1’

Should be done behind closed doors

The story that Verstappen would consider a switch to Mercedes was fueled by the soap opera surrounding Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who was accused of inappropriate behavior towards a female colleague. The departure of Adrian Newey, the energy drink manufacturer’s chief designer and technical director, is also reportedly on the horizon. According to F1 Insider Manager Raymond Vermeulen, father Jos Verstappen and Max himself will sit down with Mercedes-Benz chairman Ola Källenius, INEOS CEO Jim Ratcliffe and Mercedes F1 team boss Wolff after the race at the Miami International Autodrome.

ALSO INTERESTING: Wolff expects Hamilton to ‘behave like a professional’ despite a disappointing last season

The latter, however, lets through Reuters know that there is no meeting planned with the Limburger. “No, that’s one of the rumors. People have made up meetings, they make up what happens with the drivers, but these kinds of things should happen behind closed doors and everything that has been released is not really the right thing,” said Wolff. He also briefly discussed Newey’s possible departure from Red Bull: “I just watch it as a fan and see what happens.”

Related