'There was never a plan' - Toto Wolff explains Max Verstappen's decision to avoid signing with Mercedes for F1 2025 season

Max Verstappen was "never a plan" to replace Lewis Hamilton in Formula One for the 2025 season, according to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. Additionally, he revealed Verstappen told him last year that he had decided to remain with Red Bull for the foreseeable future because it seemed "right for him." 

Throughout Max Verstappen's fourth consecutive championship-winning season last year, Mercedes was frequently mentioned as a potential suitor for Verstappen when Lewis Hamilton announced his shocking decision to switch to Ferrari for Formula One 2025. Though Verstappen's contract was set to expire at the end of Formula One 2028, Mercedes ultimately chose to replace Hamilton with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a teenage sensation.

With teammate George Russell's contract expiring at the end of Formula One 2025 and Antonelli's term remaining undefined, Mercedes is anticipated to rekindle their interest in Verstappen this year in front of the F1 2026 regulation revisions, for which the team is reportedly making good progress. Wolff has denied that Mercedes ever had any plans to lure Verstappen away from Red Bull for Formula One 2025, claiming that the driver is content with his current team.

Toto Wolff promoted a driver from within rather than recruiting Verstappen

He stated, "There was never a plan," to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "We maintained an open line of communication and spoke frequently." He later stated that he felt it was right for him to remain in his current location for the time being. Drawing inspiration from Red Bull’s setup, Wolff promoted a driver from within rather than recruiting Verstappen.

Now Andrea will compete in the 2025 F1 season. Russell and Kimi Antonelli make their debut together, and the Italian adolescent is already the subject of a lot of excitement. Ahead of his F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix in March, it’s difficult to imagine a driver with greater expectations than Kimi Antonelli. Furthermore, Mercedes considered Antonelli as Verstappen’s backup, which shows how highly they regard him. To improve his abilities and strengthen his bond with his new teammate, Antonelli started working at Jerez on Wednesday in a 2020 Mercedes F1 car.