Verstappen shrugs off Mercedes rumors once again

(GMM) Max Verstappen (pictured testing a Mercedes at Estoril) has again played down persistent rumors linking him with Mercedes, insisting he has made his position clear amid renewed speculation following his recent GT3 test.

F1 driver Max Verstappen testing Mercedes GT3 cars at Estoril

Speaking to Viaplay in an end-of-year interview, the Red Bull driver was asked about the Mercedes talk that flared earlier this year after he was spotted holidaying with Toto Wolff.

“Now you don’t hear anything more about it, because I’ve also clearly said that I’m staying,” Verstappen said, adding that he understands why the rumors spiraled in 2025.

“That we went on holiday and were next to each other didn’t help, of course,” he laughed.

Verstappen said the much-discussed Sardinia encounter was pure coincidence. “You’re going on vacation. I like Sardinia and he likes Sardinia,” he explained. “This was not agreed. We just got there. It makes sense that at some point you know the nice places.”

Seeing Wolff’s yacht nearby, Verstappen immediately realized what might follow. “I arrived and literally thought, ‘Oh sh*t’,” he laughed. “That’s when I immediately realized what would happen.”

Toto Wolff’s and Max Verstappen’s Yachts near each other recently. Note the small boat used by Verstappen to go from his yacht to Wolff’s and vice versa

Photos of Verstappen and Wolff together soon emerged. “Then of course you wave at each other, and we went to lunch. The children, of course, play with each other,” Verstappen said. “You can follow the boat, so yes. This is part of it too.”

At the time, Wolff had been openly praising Verstappen, while George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were still without contract clarity, fueling talk that Mercedes wanted to keep its options open for 2026.

Verstappen insists the relationship with Wolff is nothing new.

“We’ve been in good contact for a long time,” he said, admitting that 2021 was a strain on that relationship. “When you’re there, you talk about a lot of things with each other, even outside Formula 1. We’re also getting along well.”

He added that perceptions often go too far.

“A lot of people think it’s about your contract right away when you talk to another team principal,” Verstappen said. “Apparently, people think that this is not allowed or possible.”

For Verstappen, the explanation is simpler.

“I think I’m a little more relaxed in my life now,” the 28-year-old concluded. “It’s also important to enjoy on holiday and have some fun.”