Max Verstappen’s possible move to Mercedes was a huge topic in Formula 1 over the summer, especially when the Red Bull driver’s yacht was suddenly spotted near Silver Arrow team boss Toto Wolff’s ship in Sardinia. Now Verstappen has explained the exact processes that took place back then.
Toto Wolff made no secret this year that he would have liked to lure Max Verstappen to Mercedes. The team boss repeatedly flirted openly with the four-time Formula 1 world champion. Because Mercedes, on the one hand, waited a long time to extend George Russell and Kimi Antonelli and, on the other hand, Verstappen only made a clear commitment to Red Bull Racing late, the rumor mill was bubbling for a long time in 2025.
Speculation really heated up during the F1 summer break because Verstappen was traveling off Sardinia with his super yacht “Unleash the Lion” – just like Wolff was with his boat. No wonder that there were strong suspicions that the duo would talk about a possible move.
But Verstappen, who later emphasized that he definitely wanted to drive for Red Bull Racing in 2026, now clarified what really happened in an interview after the F1 season.
“I made it clear that I would stay with Red Bull, but the fact that Toto and I were very close to each other with our boats on vacation didn’t really help,” said Verstappen on “Viaplay,” looking back at the bubbling rumor mill.
Verstappen: “We talk about a lot of things besides Formula 1”
“I like Sardinia, he likes Sardinia… When I arrived I thought: ‘Oh shit’,” the Dutchman revealed, adding: “I waved to him, we went to have lunch together, the kids play together. When you’re there you talk about a lot of things besides Formula 1.”
The quarrels from back when Verstappen snatched the title that was believed to be secure from Lewis Hamilton in the last race four years ago have long been forgotten. “A lot has happened since Abu Dhabi 2021, we understand each other much better. You can have a lot of nice conversations with him and Susie,” said Verstappen about the Mercedes team boss’s wife.