News Summary
- Christian Horner claims Toto Wolff was convinced Max Verstappen would join Mercedes in 2026, according to a conversation the former Red Bull boss says he had with Flavio Briatore.
- Wolff continued courting Verstappen through private dinners and public statements, while speculation surrounded an alleged exit clause in the Dutchman’s contract.
- Horner says he felt sorry for George Russell, who faced uncertainty about his Mercedes future as the team pursued the four-time world champion.
Christian Horner has revealed that Toto Wolff was convinced Max Verstappen would become a Mercedes Formula 1 driver in 2026, despite the Dutchman never indicating that he wanted to leave Red Bull. The former team principal made the claim in his autobiography, Drive, describing how Mercedes’ pursuit of Verstappen intensified during a period of uncertainty surrounding Red Bull’s competitiveness.
According to Horner, Alpine executive Flavio Briatore approached him during the negotiations and explained that Wolff believed he would successfully recruit Verstappen. The former Red Bull boss also claimed that repeated dinners and public attempts to attract the Dutchman created unnecessary speculation, particularly for George Russell, whose future at Mercedes was being questioned.
The revelations revisit one of Formula 1’s most prominent driver-market stories of 2025, when Verstappen’s future became the subject of sustained speculation amid concerns about Red Bull’s competitive direction and reports of a contractual clause that could allow him to leave.
Briatore told Horner that Wolff expected Verstappen at Mercedes
Horner described Wolff’s efforts to recruit Verstappen as a persistent source of frustration while Red Bull attempted to stabilise its competitive position.
The Mercedes team principal had repeatedly expressed admiration for the Dutchman and acknowledged his interest in signing him should an opportunity become available.
The situation became more complicated because of speculation surrounding Verstappen’s contract, which was understood to contain performance-related provisions.
Reports suggested that the driver could potentially activate an exit clause during the summer break if he was outside the top three in the Drivers’ Championship.
Horner claims Wolff continued pursuing Verstappen despite receiving no indication that the Dutchman wanted to leave.
“This situation was being aggravated by Toto, who was still doing everything he could to lure Max to Mercedes,” Horner wrote.
He then revealed that Briatore had approached him with an assessment of Wolff’s confidence.
“At one point Flavio approached me to say that Toto was convinced that Max would be a Mercedes driver in 2026.”
The claim is particularly significant because it suggests Wolff’s expectations went beyond simply exploring whether Verstappen might become available.
However, Horner’s account does not establish that Verstappen had agreed to join Mercedes or that a contract had been negotiated.
The reported confidence was communicated to Horner by Briatore, according to the former Red Bull executive’s recollection.
Horner says Verstappen never wanted to leave Red Bull
Despite the continuing speculation, Horner maintains that Verstappen had never communicated a desire to abandon Red Bull.
The Dutchman had experienced a difficult period as the team’s competitive advantage diminished, creating questions about whether he would remain committed to the organisation.
Mercedes was widely considered a potential destination, particularly as Formula 1 prepared to introduce new chassis and power-unit regulations in 2026.
However, Horner says he did not believe the negotiations represented an immediate threat.
“I shrugged it off. Max hadn’t indicated that he wanted out, so these developments were frustrating, but ultimately irrelevant,” he wrote.
That assessment reflects Horner’s confidence in Verstappen’s commitment at the time, rather than proof that the driver’s representatives had never explored alternatives.
Verstappen ultimately remained with Red Bull for 2026, continuing his partnership with the organisation that had supported his Formula 1 career since 2016.
His decision also allowed Red Bull to begin the new technical era with its most successful driver, despite the uncertainty surrounding the team’s first in-house power-unit project with Ford.
The Dutchman has subsequently played a central role in the team’s recovery during the second half of the season.
Red Bull’s recent resurgence has returned Verstappen to the front of Formula 1, with victories in Malaysia and Singapore demonstrating the progress made since the summer.
Horner admits he felt sorry for Russell during Mercedes pursuit
One of the most revealing aspects of Horner’s account concerns George Russell.
While Mercedes pursued Verstappen, the British driver’s future remained the subject of speculation because the team would potentially have needed to reorganise its line-up to accommodate the Dutchman.
Russell had established himself as a leading figure within Mercedes following Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari, but the possibility of Verstappen joining created uncertainty about the team’s long-term plans.
Horner admitted that he became increasingly sympathetic towards Russell as the negotiations continued.
“By that stage, I felt sorrier for George Russell. As a Mercedes driver, he must have been bemused at the situation,” he wrote.
The comment offers an unusual perspective from the former head of a rival team.
Horner had spent years competing directly against Mercedes and Wolff, yet suggested that the public pursuit of Verstappen could have placed Russell in an uncomfortable position.
Mercedes ultimately retained Russell for 2026 alongside Kimi Antonelli, allowing the team to maintain continuity as the new regulations came into force.
The decision has produced a successful campaign, with Mercedes establishing a commanding advantage in both championships.
Antonelli currently leads Russell by 102 points and has his first mathematical opportunity to secure the Drivers’ Championship at the United States Grand Prix.
Wolff’s Verstappen pursuit adds to long-running Red Bull rivalry
The revelations provide another example of the difficult relationship between Horner and Wolff during their years leading Red Bull and Mercedes.
The two executives competed for championships, technical personnel and commercial influence, with their rivalry becoming particularly intense during the 2021 title battle between Verstappen and Hamilton.
Verstappen’s potential availability subsequently became another point of tension.
Mercedes viewed the Dutchman as one of the strongest drivers on the grid, while Red Bull was determined to retain the competitor responsible for its recent championship success.
The situation became especially sensitive as Formula 1 approached the 2026 regulations, which represented a major opportunity for teams to change their competitive positions.
Mercedes had been preparing its new power-unit programme, while Red Bull faced the challenge of developing its own engine operation with Ford.
Horner’s account suggests that Wolff believed the uncertainty surrounding Red Bull could create an opportunity to recruit Verstappen.
However, the British executive argues that the driver’s own position never justified that confidence.
The dispute also fits into a wider series of revelations contained in Horner’s autobiography.
Horner recently revealed that Lewis Hamilton privately met him and Adrian Newey in 2012 to discuss joining Red Bull, before the seven-time world champion ultimately signed for Mercedes.
The former Red Bull boss also disclosed that he rejected an offer from Niki Lauda to become Mercedes team principal before Toto Wolff’s arrival.
Those episodes illustrate how frequently the two organisations explored opportunities involving each other’s senior personnel and drivers.
Verstappen remains central to Red Bull’s 2026 recovery
Verstappen’s decision to remain at Red Bull has become particularly important during the closing stages of the 2026 season.
After struggling to match Mercedes during the opening months, Red Bull has recovered significantly through aerodynamic and power-unit improvements.
Verstappen finished second in Azerbaijan before winning the Malaysian and Singapore Grands Prix, scoring 68 points across those three races.
Antonelli collected 43 points during the same period, although the Italian retains a substantial advantage in the championship standings.
The comparison between Verstappen and Antonelli since Red Bull’s comeback shows how the competitive balance has shifted in recent weeks.
Red Bull has also reduced its deficit to McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship, creating an increasingly close battle for third place.
Verstappen now heads to Austin seeking another victory at a circuit where he has won four times.
The Dutchman can equal Hamilton’s five-win record at Circuit of The Americas if he wins Sunday’s United States Grand Prix.
The race takes place on October 25, with Verstappen attempting to extend Red Bull’s recent winning sequence.
