'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner dismissed Toto Wolff's attempts to lure Max Verstappen to the Mercedes camp, suggesting that the three-time reigning champion remains committed to his team.
With Lewis Hamilton parting ways with the Silver Arrows at the end of the season, Wolff is on the hunt for a replacement. The team principal has eyed Verstappen as a potential candidate due to the internal politics within Red Bull and the 2026 regulations changes.
After Wolff suggested that Verstappen's decision would unfreeze the driver market, Horner assured the team that Dutchman would continue with them. Horner derided Mercedes' current state, suggesting that Verstappen wouldn't choose a team trailing two rival customer teams.
"Why would you want to leave this team? Mercedes are third team behind their customers... I can assure you that there is no ambiguity about where Max Verstappen will be next year," Horner told Niharika Ghorpade of Sportskeeda.
The Silver Arrows had yet another unimpressive outing at the Chinese GP, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton securing sixth and ninth-placed results, respectively.
Fans criticized Toto Wolff's post-race comments about securing the services of Max Verstappen while being unable to produce race-winning machinery.
"Toto should worry about doing a better job, Mercedes' car is a tractor," none X (formerly Twitter) user wrote.
Another fan suggested Verstappen wouldn't part ways with the reigning champions:
"Why on earth would max leave RB."
One account posted that Wolff was trying to deflect attention from the team's poor form in recent weeks:
"Nice story to deflect from Mercedes’ own shortcomings, which show absolutely no signs of improving."
Here are a few more reactions from F1 fans:
"That's true Merc should focus on their car right now," one fan wrote.
"Who is waiting? Max is going to leave the BY FAR best team… for p6 Merc? Toto has lost it," another X user commented.
"Lmao max is not going to failing mercedes," a third user commented.
Mercedes boss elaborates on why Max Verstappen could switch teams
Toto Wolff is adamant that the reigning F1 champion will be looking at his options, despite having his future secure with Red Bull Racing until 2028.
Despite the common rationale indicating Max Verstappen would stay with the fastest team, Wolff believes there are many other factors influencing a driver's decision. He elaborated after the Chinese GP (via BBC):
"There are so many factors that play a role for a driver joining [a team].. But I don't think that this is the only reason you stay where you are. For, let's say, simple minds, that might be the only reason why you stay in the car and that's it. But maybe there's more depth to some people that consider other factors, too, and I think Max has more depth."
Wolff suggested that 2026 engine regulation changes could motivate Verstappen to consider his options ahead of F1's new era, which could change the pecking order.
