Toto Wolff reveals odds of signing Max Verstappen to Mercedes

Toto Wolff has conceded there is a low probability of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes from Red Bull.

Verstappen has continuously been linked with a switch to Mercedes across the last year as a new era of technical regulations approaches in 2026.

Speaking to media including RacingNews365 in Austria, Wolff hinted there were talks going on “behind closed doors“, with the Brackley-based squad yet to confirm its drivers for next year.

Wolff asserted he is doing his due diligence as a team principal to explore all options on the market before making a decision.

“When you look at the situation we have with Kimi and George, we have a perfect lineup that we very much enjoy, that we believe is the future,” he told Sky F1.

“At the same time there is a four-time world champion that needs to decide what he's going to do in the future.”

However, Wolff declared the odds of Verstappen and Mercedes joining forces in F1 are not high.

“As a team principal, you need to see where that is going. But I think I give it a very little probability that it’s going to happen.”

When asked if he meant specifically for 2026 or even further ahead, Wolff added: “You don’t know what’s going to be in three or five years’ [time]. 

“That’s why you need to look at what should be considered in the long term.”

“Nothing needs, in a way, to [become] favourable for us, because with George and Kimi is what we want to continue [with].

“In order to plan right for the long term of the future, you’ve got to understand what other people will do.”