Max Verstappen - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

'I still can’t see Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff truly clicking'

20:01, 24 Jan

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byTobia Elia

Ralf Schumacher still struggles to picture Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff working together within the same team.

“I still can’t see Verstappen and Wolff truly clicking. For some reason, it just doesn’t quite fit”

- Ralf Schumacher

The saga surrounding a potential departure of the four-time world champion from Red Bull had dominated last summer’s break, before fading away following Christian Horner’s exit and Verstappen himself reaffirming his commitment shortly afterwards, effectively shutting down the rumours.

The topic resurfaced a few days ago, however, after German outlet Bild reported that Verstappen could activate an exit clause in 2026 should he not be sitting inside the top two in the standings by the summer break.

Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher sees such a scenario as realistic only under one specific condition: “I think it would only really become a topic if, for whatever reason, the car stopped working. On the other hand, where are the real alternatives? I still can’t see Verstappen and Wolff truly clicking. For some reason, it just doesn’t quite fit.

“A team like McLaren would obviously do everything for Verstappen if they had the chance and a seat available. The same goes for Aston Martin. But this is very much a home environment for him, and I have to say that by the end of last year, Verstappen felt extremely comfortable there. You genuinely get the sense that it has become a single unit.

Photo: Race Pictures

“That’s why I wouldn’t question it at all right now. And where else would he have something like this? The team is basically his. You just have to say it as it is.”

'Red Bull to sponsor the Mercedes team, Verstappen to be the driver'

A Red Bull livery on a Mercedes may sound unlikely, but such a collaboration could soon become reality — with Max Verstappen behind the wheel.

Should Verstappen opt to compete in the 2026 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, he would do so with Winward Racing. The team confirmed last week that it will take on the legendary Nordschleife endurance classic this season, initially fielding a single Mercedes-AMG GT3.

If Verstappen ultimately decides to enter the race — something he would only do if a key condition is met — a second Mercedes would be added to the line-up. That car would run in Red Bull colours, marking the first time a Mercedes has ever raced in the livery of the Austrian F1 team’s long-standing rival.

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