Toto Wolff deals Max Verstappen crucial blow over rumoured Red Bull exit

Toto Wolff has indicated that he is not willing to "flirt" with Max Verstappen as he appeared to close the door on a potential swoop for the Red Bull driver.

Wolff has spent time trying to court Verstappen away from Red Bull, including as he searched for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, but eventually chose Kimi Antonelli. 

The other Mercedes driver George Russell is currently fourth in the standings heading into the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, after three podiums from the first four races, including second in Bahrain, where he was battling multiple system failures on board his W16.

He held off Lando Norris for second place, and is reportedly set for a contract extension with his current deal set to expire at the end of this season. 

Russell is currently in negotiations over a contract extension, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season, but fresh terms would all but end Mercedes' interest in luring Verstappen away from Red Bull. 

When asked directly by Martin Brundle on Sky Sports F1 if he wanted to sign Verstappen, Wolff indicated that "no conversations" had taken place.

"I don't flirt outside if I am happy in the relationship, and I am super happy with the line-up we have," Wolff said.

"I couldn't wish for anything better, and with Max, we haven't had a conversation, and we are continuing our trajectory.

"[George] is doing a top job, and I wouldn't say he was underrated because he is such a stoic person, but people talked about Lewis or talked about Max.

"Now you can see he is delivering, and he is performing in the car to the maximum, and he is doing really great.

"If you have a brake-by-wire failure, a brake pedal that goes long and spongy, and changes all the time, [including] resetting the steering wheel, that means there is so much cognitive power behind and he is getting better and better and better."