Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has claimed that they did not initially approach Max Verstappen to join them following a conversation with Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton was with Mercedes between 2013 and 2024 before making the surprise switch to Ferrari this year. The seven-time world champion is not one to shy away from a challenge, and throughout his Formula 1 career, he has implied that he is open to whoever joins him on the team.
Speaking to Sky Sports in 2023, Hamilton was candid about the prospect of racing alongside Verstappen, saying he "100 per cent would be more than happy" to take on the Dutchman with both behind the wheel of identical cars, although he senses that Verstappen might not be as keen on the idea of them being teammates.
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In eye-opening snippets from Netflix's Drive to Survive, Wolff is seen having a conversation with his wife, Susie Wolff, on their Monaco balcony. The Mercedes boss muses over whether George Russell is the man to spearhead the team from 2025 and deliberates on potential replacements for Hamilton.
"So Carlos [Sainz] is somebody to look at. He's had some really good performances," Toto says. "Fernando [Alonso], I mean, race pace, racecraft is still very good.
Susie replies: "You're not going to be starting a new era with a long contract with Fernando, it's an interim. You don't think Max is an option?"
Toto immediately responds: "I think he is. But, if you win all the races in a season, I think he is." Susie says: "There's not much reason to leave."
Toto answers: "I haven't spoken to him because I promised Lewis I wouldn't talk to him but I will have the conversation now."
Wolff reportedly went on to begin negotiations with Verstappen's representatives through the first half of 2024, working to convince the Dutch sensation to make the switch to Mercedes.
But ultimately, by the summer recess in August, those talks reached their conclusion without success, leading Mercedes to reveal that Kimi Antonelli, an up-and-coming teenager, would be joining Russell's side for the 2025 season.
