Mercedes boss Toto Wolff claimed he had never planned to sign168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Max Verstappen despite his public flirting with the four-time F1 world champion.

Wolff courted Verstappen throughout 2024 as he looked for a possible 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton replacement.

Verstappen’s Red Bull future wasn’t enti𓄧rely clear, given their off-track turmoil and then subsequent dip in performance.

The Dutchman is contracted a๊t Red Bull until the end of 2028 and has remained committed despite their difficulties on and off track.

Wolff ultimately opted for Andrea Kimi Antonelli to partner with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell for 2025.

Speaking to German publication AMuS, Wolff said: “There was never a plan. We always talked a𒈔nd kept the line of communication open.

“At some point he said that 🌳he wanted to stay where ꧑he was for the time being because it felt right for him.

“And I said that we would go with Kimi because it also felt right for us. And now we’ll see whe𝓰rꦬe it takes us.”

Could Verstappen leave Red Bull in the future?

Despite the speculat𝓰ion surrounding Veꦑrstappen’s future, he remained coy on leaving the team.

Vers✅tappen sees Red Bull as his “second family” and wants to remain loyal to the organisation that gave him his F1 debut in 2♎015 with Toro Rosso, their sister team.

Speaking to Viaplay, Verstappen addres𒈔sed the Mercedes rumo🐻urs.

“With [Mercedes], of course, there was also a lot at play and they had to make a choice for a new d𓆉river. I have achieved a lot of success with [Red Bull] and it just feels like a second family.

“You can’t make the consideration to leave very quickly. It’s not like, I wake up and I🌱 say, ‘yeah, next 𓂃year it’s done.’

“I am not someone who shoots from left to right very quickly anyway. So you really have to think about that kind💞 of thing very carefully, too, if you want to do tha🐓t.”

Should Verstappen wish to leave Red Bull♒, he will have several suitoꦫrs.

Outside of Mercedes, Aston Martin, following the signing of Adrian Newey and te🅰aming up with Honda, could make them an attractive option to Verstappen.