Max Verstappen reveals what REALLY went down with Toto Wolff in Sardinia

Max Verstappen looks at Toto Wolff in a composite picture — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

Max Verstappen reveals what REALLY went down with Toto Wolff in Sardinia

A Wolff. A yacht. And a Dutch Lion...

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Friday 19 December 2025 17:55

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Max Verstappen has finally addressed what went down during his yacht excursion with Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff in Sardinia.

Back in the summer, Verstappen enjoyed some well deserved R&R with his family - Kelly Piquet, step-daughter Penelope and daughter Lily - on the Italian island, all aboard his superyacht 'Unleash the Lion'.

Yet, spotted on deck was a familiar face in Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, right at the time Verstappen transfer rumours were running amok.

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Neither George Russell or Kimi Antonelli's futures at Mercedes were secure in the summer, and with Red Bull's decline in performance, a switch for Verstappen was not beyond the realms of possibility.

Nevertheless, in interview-after-interview Verstappen reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull and stated that he will remain at the team for 2026; but once those yacht pictures were leaked, imagination took a hold of the F1 community.

What happened in Sardinia

In conversation with Viaplay after the 2025 season, Verstappen reflected on the coincidental link-up in Sardinia and revealed how much he enjoy spending time with the Wolff family - Toto, Susie and their son Jack.

"I clearly stated that I'm staying [at Red Bull]. That Toto and I were next to each other on a holiday didn't really help either," Verstappen explained.

"I like Sardinia, he likes Sardinia...I arrived and thought 'oh s***''. I waved to him, we went for lunch together, the kids play together. Whenever you're there you talk about a lot of things besides F1.

"That you can get along well since '21 [Abu Dhabi 2021] it has changed a lot since then. You can have a lot of nice conversations with him and Susie."

F1 Max Verstappen Mercedes Toto Wolff