formula 1
Driver decision at Mercedes is approaching: does Verstappen come?
Do the silver arrows secure the services of the four-time world champion? It will soon be clear whether Max Verstappen will drive for the German car manufacturer in Formula 1 for the German car manufacturer.
A decision to change a sensation from Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull zu Mercedes as early as the coming season is imminent. Around the Grand Prix of Belgium this Sunday (3:00 p.m./Sky) in Spa “We will know as a team how we want to play it next year. When we say it is not quite sure yet,” Mercedes-Motorsport boss Toto Wolff told the Austrian broadcaster ORF. According to this, the racing team in Spa-Francorchamps wants to clarify at least internally which two drivers go into the 2026 season.
“The drivers also need to know why they are”
However, the fact that Verstappen actually comes to the silver arrows currently seems rather unrealistic. “The direction of travel is such that we want to continue with George and Kimi, that is the absolute priority,” said 53-year-old Austrian Wolff. The contracts of regular drivers George Russell (27/Great Britain) and Kimi Antonelli (18/Italy) expire at the end of the season, it is guilty to the duo to tell them soon what their future will look like.
“It’s not just about making a decision. The drivers also need to know why,” said Wolff: “We always tried to adhere to this rule. And this time we will do it again.”
Wolff does not expect surprises
In Italy, it was recently reported that Mercedes agreed with Verstappen and that he would be behind the wheel for the German car manufacturer in the future. This is just as confirmed as reports that Verstappen has already canceled Mercedes.
In any case, the 27-year-old Dutchman seems dissatisfied with Red Bull because he has lost the connection to the World Cup leading Oscar Piatri and Lando Norris in the McLaren. However, Verstappen still has a valid contract until 2028, and a clause that is linked to his World Cup result should no longer be able to apply.
“Of course you can’t look over a Max and the plans that he has for the future. We did that too,” said Wolff, who apparently no longer calculates great chances to get the exceptional driver in 2026: “I think ‘, there will be no big surprises.”
dpa
Source: Stern
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