Wolff declares ‘silly season cancelled’ after Max Verstappen Red Bull contract extension
Toto Wolff has given his first thoughts to Max Verstappen's contract extension
ZANDVOORT – Toto Wolff said “silly season is officially cancelled” after Max Verstappen re-signed with Red Bull, but maintained Mercedes were always committed to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for next season.
The apparent availability of Verstappen was thought to be too good to ignore for long-time admirer Wolff, but now with the Dutchman off the table, Wolff insists his driver lineup was always secured.
Toto Wolff reacts to Max Verstappen contract extension
Verstappen put pen to paper on a new deal keeping him at Red Bull until 2030, meaning all the drivers at the top four teams, bar Isack Hadjar, have contracts for next year.
That effectively ends the so-called ‘silly season’ for the top teams, but Wolff insisted Mercedes’ future was always settled.
“I think [the] most important [thing] was we had clarity in the team for a long time,” he said to Sky Sports.
“We are committed to George and Kimi and, in a way, that was just a logical consequence what happened [Verstappen signing a new contract].
“Now, silly season is officially cancelled, and everyone can focus on the racing.”
But while Wolff’s wish to see Verstappen in a Mercedes F1 car may never come to pass, the Dutchman will at least be behind the wheel of a Mercedes GT3 car, something Wolff said meant he was “staying in the family.”
“We have the best of him, he’s driving our Mercedes on the really important races,” Wolff told Viaplay.
“The Nordschleife and maybe there’s going to be a few more, so he’s staying in the family.”
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Verstappen did admit he had doubts early on in the season, which would come as no surprise given Red Bull’s issues, but said he was encouraged to stick around after talks not only with the team but the FIA and F1.
“I have to say,” he told PlanetF1.com and other accredited media in Zandvoort hours after Red Bull announced his new deal, “after the first few races, I said to Laurent, ‘Don’t come to me with any kind of questions about the future because I didn’t even know if I want to stay’.
“But honestly, we always kept it very open.
“I love racing, and I think I had a lot of very good discussions with F1, but also with the FIA, and I think we are, let’s say, slowly working towards something that becomes better and better.
“So, also from my side, of course, I adapted. I accept the situation that I think we’re all in, and just trying to make the best of that.
“And I think also with the year that I signed to, it again opens up the door maybe when potentially the V8s come in to look at that again as well.”
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