Wolff 'Not at All' Disappointed by Verstappen's New Red Bull Deal
Summary
Toto Wolff says he's happy with Mercedes' lineup after Max Verstappen committed to Red Bull until 2030, as Kimi Antonelli leads the championship.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says he is 'not at all' disappointed by Max Verstappen's new Red Bull contract running through 2030, insisting his current driver pairing is the 'perfect set-up.' The announcement ends months of speculation linking Verstappen to Mercedes and McLaren.
Why it matters:
With Verstappen off the market, the 2026 driver market is settled. Mercedes' faith in Kimi Antonelli is paying off, as the 20-year-old leads the championship ahead of teammate George Russell.
The details:
- Red Bull extended Verstappen's deal to 2030, removing exit clauses that would have allowed him to leave in 2027.
- Wolff had publicly pursued Verstappen after Lewis Hamilton's departure, but now says: 'We're committed to George and Kimi... Silly season is officially cancelled.'
- Antonelli has won five straight races after finishing second in the opener, building a 59-point lead over Russell.
- Sky F1 pundit Nico Rosberg believes Verstappen had no real options: 'He was in talks with McLaren, but that was just to strengthen his position at Red Bull.'
- Rosberg also noted Verstappen's new deal is worth an estimated £70-90m per year.
What's next:
F1 heads to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix on September 4-6, where Ferrari will aim to challenge Mercedes' dominance.
Original Article :https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13577061/max-verstappen-mercedes-boss-to...