Mercedes' Toto Wolff confirms interest in signing Max Verstappen - ESPN

Toto Wolff has confirmed Mercedes is exploring the possibility of signing Max Verstappen in the future, but insists it is not impacting ongoing contract talks with George Russell for 2026.

Speculation over Verstappen leaving Red Bull for Mercedes intensified on Thursday after Russell said his talks were being delayed because his team is also pursuing the four-time world champion.

Russell is out of contract with Mercedes at the end of this year, which also has 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli signed on a long-term deal.

Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028, although the team's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has spoken openly about performance-based clauses that could see the 27-year-old leave before that date.

«First of all, there is no delay in George's contract situation because it's pretty clear since a long time what our timings were,» Wolff told Sky Sports. «We've known each other for such a long time so there is no such thing as a delay.

»But also as a team principal responsible for the best car brand in the world it is clear you're exploring what a four-time world champion is going to do in the future, and that could be a long time in the future. But that has no effect on us putting a signature on George's contract."

Wolff added that Russell was aware of Mercedes' position on Verstappen.

«What we are trying to do in the team is be transparent, as we are,» the team boss added. «You can choose to hold things under wraps, or do what we've done in the last 20 years I've been here [which is] putting it out there and saying this is the situation.

»These drivers are clever people and they talk to each other. I'm always open about these things, and I'm saying it how it is and there's no such thing as