Wolff on Verstappen rumors: 'It would be wrong to change anything'

Speculation surrounding Max Verstappen's Formula 1 future intensified ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, with persistent rumors linking the Red Bull driver to potential moves to McLaren or Mercedes. However, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff downplayed these rumors, asserting his team's contentment with their current driver pairing of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

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Our plan is not to change the driver pairing. For us, it is important that we have stability now. Kimi has gotten into driving, the driver pairing fits, as does the cooperation between the two in the team. It would be wrong to change that now.

Wolff emphasized the importance of stability within the Mercedes team, noting Antonelli's development and the strong working relationship between the drivers. "Our plan is not to change the driver pairing," Wolff stated. "For us, it is important that we have stability now. Kimi has gotten into driving, the driver pairing fits, as does the cooperation between the two in the team. It would be wrong to change that now."

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It is simply crucial for us as a team. We want to improve from the start of the season to the end of the season. The team always gives 100 percent to make the car faster.

Meanwhile, Verstappen himself expressed a desire for effective upgrades to his Red Bull car, acknowledging the team's crucial efforts to improve performance. "It is simply crucial for us as a team. We want to improve from the start of the season to the end of the season. The team always gives 100 percent to make the car faster," he said. Verstappen has not definitively committed to Red Bull, with reports suggesting a potential move to McLaren as a replacement for Oscar Piastri could be an option via an exit clause at the end of the season.

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Max wants a fast car, he has always wanted a fast car and he fully trusts that we will do everything possible in the short and long term to return to success.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies underscored the team's commitment to closing the gap with rivals like Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren, aiming to convince Verstappen to stay until his contract ends in 2028. "Max wants a fast car, he has always wanted a fast car and he fully trusts that we will do everything possible in the short and long term to return to success," Mekies stated. Raymond Vermeulen, Verstappen's manager, also reinforced the driver's camp's position, stating, "We feel at home at Red Bull. But Max was not born to drive in the midfield."

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We feel at home at Red Bull. But Max was not born to drive in the midfield.