Mercedes team principal believes “God knows” if Max Verstappen will compete for the German marque in the future, but insists his “homegrown” approach “feels natural” for the moment.
Toto Wolff has underlined his close relationship with the Verstappens, but says that only “God knows” whether the Dutch driver will ever race for Mercedes in Formula One.
With Lewis Hamilton’s commitment to join Ferrari coming before the start of the 2017 F1 season, who would replace him was a big topic of discussion throughout the year.
With the situation at Red Bull appearing increasingly unstable and the team’s performance on track deteriorating, there was widespread speculation that Max Verstappen might leave the Milton Keynes-based company.
While those rumors remain to some extent, the 27-year-old will race for the reigning constructors’ champions next season.
It’s unclear whether he’ll stay there indefinitely, despite having a contract until the end of 2028. If he does not, the 62-time grand prix winner has been most closely linked to Mercedes, with the team principal’s friendship with the Verstappen family frequently at the forefront of such claims.
Over the last year, Wolff has argued that Verstappen is a driver who has gotten away from him – and his team – in the past, and that a collaboration is required in the future. However, those words were undoubtedly intended to further destabilise Red Bull.
Nonetheless, the Austrian claims he gets along well with the three-time drivers’ champion and that the turbulent 2021 did not sever his ties with the Dutch family.
“We get along very well, not always in front of the public eye,” Wolff stated of Max on the High Performance Podcast.
“I have known Jos [Verstappen, Max’s father] for a long time. He’s my age, and we share similar opinions on racing.
“And I don’t want the year 2021 to cast a pall over any personal relationships that we have. It was awful enough that year, yet the bonds remain intact.”
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