Toto Wolff says signing F1 world champion 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen is no longer on Mercedes’ radar.

Mercedes spent much of last year publicly courting Verstappen as they searched for a replacement for seven-time world champion168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Lewis Hamilton after his bombshell decision to join Ferrari, before eventually promoting teenage prodigy 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Kimi Antonelli.

While Wolff previously expressed his desire to sign Verstappen in the future, he now insists he will stop flirting with the four-time world champion as he focuses on Mercedes’ line-up of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell and Antonelli.

"I think 🌃we've said it pretty clearly last year, and he [Verstappen] said the same,” Wolff is quoted by as 🧸saying ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

"We need to concentrate on our driver line-up, we need to do the best that we ca൩n. I don't flirt outside if I'm in a good relationship, and that is true for this year, too. At the moment that is not on our radar. I don't like to shift my concentration away from these guys [Russell andꦇ Antonelli].

"When we decided 🥃to go for ཧKimi, it was clear that we are going for a young driver that has shown tremendous potential in the junior series since we've known him.

"For Kimi, it's about the time to develop, to learn the tracks, to be on top for next year, the regulation change. T🅺hat means great results and that means moments where it's going to be more difficult.

"I said to George: 'We d💮on't expect🍌 you to just be crushing Kimi all the time’.

“We wouldn't have hired Kimi if we thought that would be the case. So, I believe in terms of speed, Kimi is going to be right up there with George. There's a lot to learn in terms of long running the tyres, a💙nd the development is going to be steep.

"We have a driver combination of one very young driver, 18 years old, and a🉐nother young driver, 27 years old, and hopefully they're going to push each other, and push ea๊ch other strong.”

Mercedes set for Russell contract talks

Wolff revealed he is preparing to enter contract renewal talks wit💮h Russell, whose current deal expires at the end of the year.

There have been suggesti𒀰ons that Mercedes could look to continue their pursuit of Verstappen in the event Russell left the team, but Wolff has made it clear the intention is to continue with the same driver line-up beyond the end of 2025.

"We have had a chat a few weeks ago abou꧟t what the right timing would be to liaise," Wolff said of Russell.

"I'm someone who sticks to what he says, and these two are the combination that I want to 🌌go forward with Mercedes. I have no other reasons to doubt that.

"We're going to find some time, I guess before the s🔯ummer. I need to be careful what I say to you, because you will, every month probably, ask when have those discussions happened.

“But we will do that in a timel🎃y manner, witho🐟ut disrupting the season.”

Verstappen is the subject of rumoured interest from 𝓀Aston Martin, who are reportedly preparing an astronomical bid to try and poach him from Red Bull.

Such a move - and the opportunity to reunite with legendary F1 car designer Adrian Newey - may appeal to Verstappen, but the 27-year-old Dutchman has repeatedly insisted he is h🌌appy at Red Bull and has no desire to leave.