Toto Wolff has been able to whittle down the Mercedes driver shortlist as the year has progressed. He’s known since the winter that he needed to find a replacement for Lewis Hamilton.
It’s a task that could partially define his tenure as team principal. Hamilton is the most successful driver in F1 history, having won six of his seven world championships at Mercedes, and that only increases the stakes.
Wolff led the Silver Arrows to a historic run of dominance between 2014 and 2021 as they won eight consecutive constructors’ titles. But they have struggled in F1’s ground effect era, winning just one race and surrendering their crown to Red Bull.
The Austrian needs an off-track success story to break the cycle of disappointment. He’s looked at several possible candidates already.
He held extensive talks with the management of Fernando Alonso, and tentative discussions with Alex Albon, before both signed new contracts. There was also an offer to Carlos Sainz, but the Spaniard didn’t seem interested in accepting only one guaranteed year.
Academy driver Kimi Antonelli is also building an increasingly strong case. Antonelli recently out-paced George Russell in race trim at a private test at Silverstone, but Mercedes haven’t placed their faith in a rookie since their return to F1 in 2010.
Toto Wolff wants to land Christian Horner blow by signing Max Verstappen
Of course, the driver Wolff really wants is Max Verstappen. That’s no surprise given that Verstappen is the closest to matching Hamilton’s record numbers, having won the last three championships.
But according to FUnoAnalisiTecnica, the 52-year-old has a dual motive in his pursuit. While strengthening Mercedes, he also wants to hurt Red Bull.
Wolff knows he can ‘destabilise’ the team who have had a stranglehold on F1 if he signs their star driver. As such, his move is partly ‘tactical’.
He still regards Red Bull as ‘enemy number one’ after the bitter rivalry of the 2021 season. Verstappen, of course, beat Hamilton to the title in hugely controversial circumstances in Abu Dhabi after an acrimonious campaign.
Wolff still harbours a ‘hatred’ for counterpart Christian Horner, with ‘resentment smouldering’ even as their relationship appears outwardly respectful. The Mercedes chief would take ‘great pleasure’ in signing Verstappen given the ‘humiliation’ it would cause for Horner.
What Wolff has said about signing Helmut Marko amid Verstappen pursuit
Wolff has his work cut out to convince Verstappen to abandon the best car on the grid and join a team who are some way off the pace. Indeed, a move for 2025 may be off the table on that basis.
However, the Dutchman’s deal apparently includes a get-out clause ahead of the 2026 season. He knows there will be major changes to the regulations, and he’ll want to ensure he’s in the best possible position.
That could present an opportunity for Wolff, but it’s not the only key clause in his contract. Verstappen will also be able to leave Red Bull if executive director Helmut Marko walks away.
In his role as driver academy chief, Marko recruited Verstappen and gave him his chance in F1 as a 17-year-old at Toro Rosso. They clearly share a strong relationship.
It may be significant, then, that Wolff and Marko have become closer in recent times. When asked if a move to Mercedes was on the cards, the former simply replied that ‘anything is possible’.
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