Mercedes boss Toto Wolf on Friday confirmed his interest in signing a four -time defending formula 1 world champion Max Vastapain.
On Thursday, Mercedes driver George Russell told reporters that their contract renewal talks were delayed due to the chase of Vastapane’s team of Red Bull.
In response, Wolf said that his interest in Vastapane has nothing to do with the 27 -year -old Russell to finish a new deal, whose contract is ending at the end of the year.
“First of all, George’s contract position is not delayed because it is very clear for what our time were,” Wolf told Sky Sports. “We have known each other for so long, so there is no such thing as delay.
“But as the principal of a team responsible for the best car brand in the world, it is clear that you are searching for what the four -time world champions are going to do in the future, and it can be a long time in the future. But it has no effect on us.
Wolf said he had been transparent about Mercedes’ interest in Verustapain with Russell.
He told Sky Sports, “I am always open about these things, and I am saying how it is and there is no such thing, ‘We are going to sign Max,’ because it’s so far that it is not realistic at that level,” he told Sky Sports. “With George, we talk about everything.”
Meanwhile, Verustapane is subject to the contract in the red bull via 2028.
When asked about speculation and in 2026 he is expected to drive for which team, Verustapen did not give a direct reply to reporters on Thursday before the Austrian Grand Prix.
The 27 -year -old Dutch driver said, “This is not really on my mind. Just driving well, trying to pursue performance, and then we focus next year.”
-Bield level media
