F1 News: Toto Wolff confirms Max Verstappen NUMBER ONE target for vacant Mercedes seat

verstappen, red bull racing, toto wolff, mercedes — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

Wolff confirms Verstappen NUMBER ONE target for vacant Mercedes seat

Toto Wolff confirms that Max Verstappen is his number one target to replace Lewis Hamilton

Shay Rogers

Sunday 31 March 2024 09:58 Updated: 11:03

Toto Wolff has confirmed that Max Verstappen is Mercedes’ main target to replace the outgoing Lewis Hamilton.

The Silver Arrows are set to lose their star driver after 12 seasons together at the end of the 2024 season.

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It has left them needing a replacement to line-up alongside George Russell, but that isn’t an easy sell to any big name in the sport currently due to their poor car performance.

They will be thankful that a new set of technical regulations are around the corner in 2026, meaning that they have an opportunity to get ahead of their rivals again with some good work – much like they did in 2014.

Max Verstappen would be a huge acquisition for any team

Toto Wolff has a big decision to make for Mercedes

Will Max Verstappen join Mercedes?

Speaking to Fox Sports Australia at the Australian Grand Prix, Wolff discussed the prospect of Verstappen hitting the open market in silly season.

"We have a slot free, the only one in the top teams -- unless Max decides he goes and then the slot is not going to be free with us anymore," he said.

Asked if Verstappen would be the number one pick, Wolff replied: "Yes. You see what his performance levels are but I wouldn't want to discount the other ones too."

It’s a move that would turn the F1 world upside down, and see Red Bull possibly in need of two drivers to drive their title-challenging machines.

Rarely does the sport ever see such significant driver moves similar to what Lewis Hamilton announced at Ferrari, but it’s even less probable to see two greats moving teams ahead of the same season.