Max Verstappen stated that the catch-up between himself and Toto Wolff during the summer break "didn't really help" the growing rumours.

Midway through the Formula 1 season, the talk of Verstappen making a move to Mercedes resurfaced once again during a difficult spell with Red Bull and the troublesome RB21.

Those rumours were then exacerbated after Verstappen and Wolff were both in Sardinia for the summer holidays. GPblog was quick to report that it was a friendly catch-up, not a business meeting.

Despite this, the Dutchman was well aware it wasn’t helpful amid the continued talk between Verstappen and a potential move to the German team.

Max Verstappen will race for Red Bull in 2026 - Photo: RacePictures

Verstappen on his vacation in Sardinia

“I had clearly said I was staying [at Red Bull]; the fact that Toto and I were sitting next to each other on vacation didn’t really help either,” Verstappen reflected in the end-of-year interview with Viaplay.

“I love Sardinia, he loves Sardinia. I arrived and thought: ‘Oh s***.’ But I waved at him, we had lunch together, and the kids played together.

When you’re there, you talk about everything except F1. Since 2021, you get along well. It has changed a lot since then. You can have many pleasant conversations with him and Susie,” Verstappen explained.

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New numbers for the 2026 season

There will be some changes for Max Verstappen coming into the 2026 season, with his racing number expected to change to the number three.

Of course, after Lando Norris became World Champion, the Dutchman could no longer use the number one on his machine, with the 28-year-old explaining why he decided not to use his old number 33.

There will be two other drivers who will make changes to their car numbers for the 2026 season, GPblog understands, with Norris and Arvid Lindblad expected to alter their numbers.

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