Images of a private meeting between Jos Verstappen and Toto Wolff caused a stir last week; Verstappen senior visited the Mercedes team boss in the paddock in Canada. It fueled further rumors about a move of Max Verstappen to the Silberpfeile, but Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies wants to nip a new transfer hype in the bud. He stated that such meetings are ‘very normal’.
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Jos Verstappen and Toto Wolff were spotted this week in the Mercedes hospitality area. An interesting meeting, given the ongoing exit rumors surrounding Max Verstappen. Although the four-time world champion has now confirmed that he will not be leaving Formula 1 for the time being, it is unclear whether he will fulfill his contract with Red Bull. The collaboration runs until 2028, but can be terminated early through special clauses.
‘Very normal’
Mercedes has already courted Verstappen in recent years, but both parties never reached a deal. That makes it at least remarkable that Jos Verstappen and Toto Wolff are now spotted together in the paddock. However, Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies was quick to put the meeting into perspective. “No matter how interesting it may look from the outside, I don’t think there were any special intentions behind this,” he responded calmly to the press.
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“We ourselves are also constantly in talks with Max and Jos,” he added. “So it is also very normal that they occasionally sit down with Toto.” Mekies also emphasized that Max Verstappen competed in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in mid-May during his 24-hour debut at the Nürburgring. “That’s why I don’t think there’s more behind this.”
In recent months, it was still uncertain whether Verstappen even wanted to stay in Formula 1. He expressed strong criticism of the new F1 regulations and hinted several times at an early departure. He has now confirmed that he will still race in the top class next year. “Max cares a lot about Formula 1 and that’s why he speaks so clearly about it,” Mekies clarified. “He wants Formula 1 to remain the absolute pinnacle of motorsport. He wants qualifying sessions where drivers can push flat out and cars with which you can really drive on the limit in the corners. Fortunately, there is a lot of willingness from the FIA, FOM, and the teams to look for solutions. That is encouraging for Max, and actually for everyone within the sport.”
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