Toto Wolff has denied that his \u201cteasing\u201d of a move for Max Verstappen for the F1 2026 season contributed to Red Bull\u2019s decision to sack Christian Horner.<\/p>\n
And he was quipped that he will be \u201creally in the s**t\u201d if Horner\u2019s next move sees him join F1\u2019s governing body the FIA.<\/p>\n
Toto Wolff denies Max Verstappen \u2018teasing\u2019 helped Christian Horner \u2018get kicked out\u2019<\/p>\n
Horner was sacked by Red Bull earlier this month after more than 20 years in charge, with the 51-year-old\u2019s departure coming at the height of speculation over the future of Verstappen.<\/p>\n
Mercedes driver George Russell, who is out of contract at the end of this season, revealed last month that negotiations to take Verstappen to Mercedes for F1 2026 are \u201congoing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite being under contract with Red Bull in 2028, Verstappen\u2019s contract is believed to contain a performance-related exit clause that could see him leave the team at the end of this season.<\/p>\n
Go deeper: Christian Horner\u2019s shock Red Bull exit<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Why Christian Horner? Why now? Shock exit may not guarantee Max Verstappen<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Ranked: Is Christian Horner sack the biggest shock in F1 history?<\/a><\/p>\n It is thought that Verstappen will be free to leave Red Bull at the end of F1 2025 if he is lower than fourth in the Drivers\u2019 standings following next weekend\u2019s Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before F1\u2019s summer break.<\/p>\n Yet with Verstappen currently occupying third place with an 18-point advantage over Russell, it is highly unlikely that the Red Bull driver will meet the requirements to leave the team at the end of F1 2025.<\/p>\n Speaking after FP1 at the Belgian Grand Prix, Wolff denied that his talks with Verstappen was a contributing factor in Red Bull\u2019s decision to relieve Horner of his duties.<\/p>\n Asked by Sky F1\u2019s Martin Brundle if his \u201cteasing\u201d with Verstappen \u201chelped get Christian kicked out\u201d, Wolff replied: \u201cNo.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there is much more in the background that we probably don\u2019t know with Red Bull, the mothership and the whole constellation.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd looking after drivers. in my position as team principal of Mercedes I need to find out, I need to explore what Max is going to do in the next few years, not only next year.\u201d<\/p>\n Wolff went on to concede that it is now unlikely that Mercedes will persuade Verstappen to leave Red Bull for F1 2026.<\/p>\n Put to him that he will need an all-star driver lineup of Russell and Verstappen to take the fight to McLaren next season, he said: \u201cThis is all a long shot, far fetched, because I want to stay with Kimi [Antonelli] and and George as it stands.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything else is not realistic, but obviously if you have a you have a Russell\/Verstappen lineup that\u2019s Prost\/Senna I guess, no?<\/p>\n \u201cI think drivers and you will know that much better than me.<\/p>\n \u201cDrivers will always seek the quickest car much more than any monetary incentives.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about being in the quickest car and analysing that and this is what Max and all the others will also do.\u201d<\/p>\n More on Mercedes and Red Bull Racing from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Mercedes news<\/a><\/p>\n