Last year, Toto Wolff made attempts to sign a contract with Max Verstappen, but the Red Bull Racing driver did not accept the offer, and Kimi Antonelli became George Russell's new teammate at Mercedes.
In Melbourne, the Mercedes team principal said that he was no longer considering Max and was ready to start negotiations with Russell, whose contract with the team expires at the end of 2025.
Toto Wolff: “We have to concentrate on our own drivers. I don't flirt on the street if I have a good relationship, so at the moment Verstappen's move is not on our radar.
I don't want to take the focus off Russell and Antonelli. I am of the opinion that this line-up should remain at Mercedes in the future. I have no reason to doubt that.
George and I discussed a few weeks ago when the right time would be to talk about a contract. We will find the right time to have that conversation. I think it will be before the summer. We will have the talks in a timely manner and in a way that does not interfere with the season.”
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