Wolff Continues Pursuing Verstappen 'Very Strongly' According To Clarkson

Sunday, 14 April 2024 at 16:00

Formula 1 journalist and podcast host Tom Clarkson revealed the latest rumors from the Japanese Grand Prix paddock suggesting Toto Wolff is doing what he can to secure Max Verstappen for his team.

Max Verstappen currently has a contract with Red Bull Racing that should be valid at least until the end of the 2028 season.

However, it has become clear over the recent weeks that it's not totally set in stone, and there might be one specific clause that would allow the triple World Champion to leave the team from Milton Keynes if he wanted.

While not many reasons seem to be there for him to do so when he has the fastest car and perfect team around him, it was suggested that the Mercedes team principal was trying to convince the 26-year-old to join his team. Tom Clarkson said on the F1 Nation Podcast:

"In Japan, I was told by several people that Toto Wolff is pursuing Max very strongly. He needs a signature signing, because obviously the last three years haven't been going very well for the team."

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According to Auto Motor und Sport, Verstappen's potential salary, which would be higher than Hamilton's, was already approved internally, and Wolff is now only playing the waiting game.

"It would be a real statement of intent, wouldn't it, if he got Max Verstappen? It was even mentioned to me that he's said to Max, 'Bring Helmut Marko with you, if that's what it requires.' So, a bit of an Austrian superteam at the top of Mercedes."

On the other hand, multiple Italian publications suggested two days ago that Mercedes was very close to reaching a deal with Carlos Sainz, who will be leaving Ferrari at the end of the season.

Could Verstappen already have rejected Wolff? Or are speculations about Sainz untrue? Wolff stated multiple times that he doesn't plan to rush his decision, so if we were to go by his words, the alternative that he is still waiting for the Red Bull Racing driver seems more likely.