Schumacher: Wolff deliberately lowballed Verstappen with Mercedes offer

Ralf Schumacher claims Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff deliberately lowballed Max Verstappen with a recent contract offer, suggesting the Dutchman's staggering salary demands do not fit Wolff's long-term vision. The former F1 driver alleges Wolff is already committed to Kimi Antonelli as Mercedes' future cornerstone, making an expensive partnership with Verstappen unnecessary despite ongoing rumors of a move.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's future remains Formula 1's most persistent storyline even though his Red Bull contract runs until 2028. With the RB22 producing just one podium in seven races and Verstappen sitting seventh in the standings—101 points behind championship leader Antonelli—speculation about a Mercedes switch continues to intensify. Schumacher's comments imply Wolff's offer was designed to be rejected, fundamentally questioning whether Mercedes actually wants the four-time champion at any price.

The details:

• Schumacher told the Backstage Boxengasse podcast that Wolff presented an offer "so bad financially that it's not an option anyway," which he believes was intentional.
• Verstappen currently commands an estimated $65 million to $70 million in base salary alone at Red Bull, a figure that would strain Mercedes' wage structure alongside Antonelli's expected rise.
• Red Bull reportedly pushed aggressively to lock Verstappen down until 2032 with a four-year extension, only for the driver to refuse and keep his options open through 2028.
• Verstappen has endured a difficult 2026 campaign, with Red Bull arguably only the fourth-best team on the grid behind Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren.

What's next:

With Verstappen stating he will only share news when ready, paddock gossip is likely to drag on for weeks if not months. He has historically shut down mid-season speculation—most notably at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix—but his frustration with Red Bull's performance makes this situation less predictable. If the RB22 does not improve rapidly, Verstappen's patience may run out, though Wolff's reluctance to pay top dollar leaves few obvious landing spots.