Mercedes boss Wolff dismisses Verstappen links

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What is F1 TV?F1 GlossaryGet involved2026 RegulationsNewsVideosMercedes boss Wolff dismisses Verstappen linksWhy F1 teams are operating at a level never seen beforeBettingOur final Austrian Grand Prix betting predictions madeBettingBet Builder picks for Austria after Russell takes polePlay1:33'I don't give up' - P2 Leclerc will 'try everything' in Sunday's Austrian GP 1:25ONBOARD: Russell’s 2026 Pirelli Pole Position Award lap at the Austrian GP Alexander AlbonFernando AlonsoKimi AntonelliOliver BearmanGabriel BortoletoValtteri BottasFranco ColapintoPierre GaslyIsack HadjarLewis HamiltonNico HulkenbergLiam LawsonCharles LeclercArvid LindbladLando NorrisEsteban OconSergio PerezOscar PiastriGeorge RussellCarlos SainzLance StrollMax VerstappenAll Drivers Hall of FameTeamsChevron DropdownAlpineAston MartinAudiCadillacFerrariHaas F1 TeamMcLarenMercedesRacing BullsRed Bull RacingWilliamsAll TeamsFantasy & GamingChevron DropdownF1 Sim RacingFantasyF1 25F1 Manager 24F1 PredictF1 ClashF1 Members' AreaMenuFIA if(window.f1MobileDetection.iOSSafari) { var meta = document.createElement("meta"); meta.name = "apple-itunes-app"; meta.content = "app-id=835022598, app-argument=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/we-dont-want-to-change-wolff-insists-mercedes-very-happy-with-driver-line-up-as-he-dismisses-verstappen-links.Q5qBmtDDHB3Osq4DQLqBu.Q5qBmtDDHB3Osq4DQLqBu"; document.head.appendChild(meta); } {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/we-dont-want-to-change-wolff-insists-mercedes-very-happy-with-driver-line-up-as-he-dismisses-verstappen-links.Q5qBmtDDHB3Osq4DQLqBu","url":"https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/we-dont-want-to-change-wolff-insists-mercedes-very-happy-with-driver-line-up-as-he-dismisses-verstappen-links.Q5qBmtDDHB3Osq4DQLqBu","mainEntityOfPage":"https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/we-dont-want-to-change-wolff-insists-mercedes-very-happy-with-driver-line-up-as-he-dismisses-verstappen-links.Q5qBmtDDHB3Osq4DQLqBu","datePublished":"2026-06-28T09:01:59.570Z","dateModified":"2026-06-28T09:01:59.570Z","headline":"‘We don’t want to change’ – Wolff insists Mercedes ‘very happy’ with driver line-up as he dismisses Verstappen links","author":"F1","description":"Toto Wolff has made it clear that Mercedes “don’t want to change things” when it comes to their driver line-up, brushing off any further links to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://media.formula1.com/image/upload/t_16by9North/f_auto/q_auto/v1780762030/trackside-images/2026/F1_Grand_Prix_of_Monaco___Qualifying/2280191452.jpg"},"isAccessibleForFree":"true","publisher":{"@type":"SportsOrganization","@id":"https://www.formula1.com#organization","name":"Formula 1","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.formula1.com/etc/designs/fom-website/social/f1-default-share.jpg","width":"480","height":"120"}}}Toto WolffGeorge RussellKimi AntonelliShow more tags‘We don’t want to change’ – Wolff insists Mercedes ‘very happy’ with driver line-up as he dismisses Verstappen linksMercedes are committed to continuing with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli as their two drivers, according to team boss Toto Wolff. Toto Wolff has made it clear that Mercedes “don’t want to change things” when it comes to their driver line-up, brushing off any further links to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Mercedes were forced into a driver change for the 2025 season when Lewis Hamilton made his blockbuster move to Ferrari, with teenager Kimi Antonelli chosen as George Russell’s new team mate. Then, as that campaign wore on, Mercedes boss Wolff publicly admitted to an interest in signing Verstappen from Red Bull, amid the team’s struggle for form, saying there are some talks “you just need to have”. However, Mercedes eventually stuck with both Russell and Antonelli heading into 2026, and F1’s new era of regulations, with Russell later stressing that he holds a “multi-year deal” and “will be here next year with the team”. Asked in an interview with Sky Sports F1 if Russell’s recent comments mean he is locked in at Mercedes for 2027, and that Verstappen is now “off the radar”, Wolff commented: “Yeah, we don’t want to change things. “We’ve said it also to George, and I think it’s a line-up that is good for us. I’m very happy with the two of them.” Wolff was also asked to give his thoughts on the dynamic between Russell and Antonelli so far this season – with the experienced 28-year-old facing a stern challenge from his 19-year-old counterpart. Russell and Antonelli teamed up at Mercedes in 2025, and Wolff plans to keep both of them onboard“When you go into F1, you are resilient, and you have to believe in yourself,” said Wolff, in terms of how Russell is coping and responding. “I think George is particularly good at that. “All throughout his career there have been ebbs and flows, and when someone appears to be very quick, but he has always been able to find himself and win. “I have no doubt that that’s going to continue. Kimi is clearly very fast, that’s why we hired him, and George the same.” Russell will start Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix from pole position, with Antonelli back in fourth, after a Q3 phase impacted by Verstappen’s heavy crash and the subsequent yellow flags. F1FacebookXInstagramYouTube© 2003-2026 Formula One World Championship Limited