Toto Wolff insists “communication” with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen about a future switch to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Mercedes remains “open”.

Wolff openly courted 💖Verstappen in the early part of this season when chaos engulfed Red Bull, but the F1 champion is certain to stay put next season.

Wꦏolff is instead set 🍌to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton with Kimi Antonelli who will drive on Friday in FP1 for Mercedes at the F1 Italian Grand Prix.

The Me♎rcedes team principal w🧜as asked if he could lure Verstappen for 2026.

"Much too early,” he answered .

“For the benefit of our drivers next year, I don't want t🐽o have any conversation about 2026 or beyond, because we very much hope that the 2025 line-up will be the 🃏line-up going forward.”

Wolff, however, admitte🃏d that he retains a direct lin💞e to Verstappen.

"We have not ﷺgiven each other any, let's say, timings,” Wolff said.

“It is more like, keep the communication channel open, while knowing that his priority 🐲is to make it function with Red Bull and our prio𒉰rity will be to make it function with the two drivers we have."

Wolff first j🍸umped at the chance to tempt Verstappen across when Red Bull were reeling from internal problems which involved Christian Horner, Helmut Marko and even Jos Verstappen.

“The relationships wereꦚ dysfunctional,” Wolff said.

“I'm not sure they are back in a great place, but it is w♊hat it is.

“There was a moment, or ꧟there was an opportunity, to at 🀅least have conversations of what it could be in the future, and this is what we did."

Although the chance to take Vers🐈tappen as a replacement for Hamilton has gone, in 2026 a new opportunity will arise.

The new F1 regulations will begin in 2026 and the rumour inside the paddock is that Mercedes could lead the way, w🌱ith the new engines.

Should they be able to convince Verstappen - or pro🃏ve that their engine can set them up for a period of dominance - then a stunning dri𓃲ver move could be on the cards again.

But, teenager Antonel✨li is expected to be named as a Mercedes driver for next year, alongside George Russell.

Wolff insiꦯs🃏ts that new-look duo will retain his belief heading into the new era of F1 but his ongoing relationship with Verstappen is something to watch.

Red Bull boss Horꦍner hit back at Wolff last week in Za🎐ndvoort over his public admiration of Verstappen.

“I find it surprising how much discusಞsion in the open media there is 🧔about this topic,” Horner said.

“The 🙈situation was always clear between ourselves and Max and I think others can talk, but we’re comfortable with where we’re at.”

Horner also prodded: “I didn’t see Toto’s car pe🅺rformin🐬g that well today.”