Toto Wolff says Mercedes has no plans to engage 🔴in any contract-related di🔯scussions with Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen.

Verstappen opted to join Red Bull’s junior programme over Mercedes’ back in 2014 as he enjoyed a meteoric rise up the single-seater ladder, before mak🦹ing his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2015 and then graduating to the senior team the following season.

Speculation surrounding Mercedes’ supposed continued interest in Verstappen has bee🌸n rife over the last few years, with reports in Germany quoting Red Bull ൲motorsport advisor Helmut Marko as saying that Wolff has repeatedly called the Dutchman in recent months.

But Wolff said he has laughed off the rumours🎐 with both Verstappen and his father Jos.

“We had q𒀰uite a laugh about that, all three of us. I haven’t got Max’s number and I’ve never spoken to him on the phone,” Wolff explained.

“As Max said 💙rightly, I know Jos since a long time and I would consider him a friend. We talk about babies and go-karting, and ♒when do we put our baby kids in a go-kart together and which team are we going to set up.

“There’s no talk about Max or his contract. I think for the right reasons, ꧒Max is very committed to the Honda-Red Bull situation, and rightly so, we are commꦍitted to our drivers.

“We are not planning to engage in other discussions, an🦂d nor are Jos or Max, so I don’t know where that came from.”

Ve🍒rstappen currently trails world championship leader Lewis Hamilton by 29 points in the drivers’ standings, ahead of Ferrari pairing Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc.

Five-time world champion Hamilton is tied down to Mercedes until the end of 2020, while Mercedes has an option to extend Valtteri Bottas’ ไcurrent deal into a fourth term next season.

“After a day like today, where we are P1 and P2 I’m not considering any other drivers for the short term,” Wolff said aft🌟er Mercedes recorded its third straight one-two finish of 2019 at the Chinese Grand Prix.

“What happens after 2020 will be first discussed with Valtteri and Lewis. Once that decision is taken, th🐈en we will turn to the paddock.

“But hopefully the line-up goes forever.”