Wolff 'not at all' disappointed by Verstappen's new Red Bull deal

Max Verstappen: Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says he is 'not at all' disappointed by Dutchman's new Red Bull contract Max Verstappen has ended speculation over his future by signing a contract extension with Red Bull until 2030; Mercedes boss Toto Wolff had previously held an interest in signing the Dutchman; watch the Italian Grand Prix at Monza live on Sky Sports F1 on September 4-6 Wednesday 26 August 2026 07:03, UK Mercedes chief Toto Wolff says he is "not at all" disappointed by Max Verstappen having committed to Red Bull with a new contract that runs until 2030. Ahead of the Formula 1 season resuming with Verstappen's home Dutch Grand Prix over the weekend, Red Bull ended speculation over the four-time world champion's future by announcing the extension. While Verstappen's previous deal was set to run until 2028, exit clauses in the agreement meant the 28-year-old would have been free to join another team in 2027, with possible switches to Mercedes and McLaren having been the subject of significant speculation. - F1 2026 standings | F1 2026 calendar | F1 Gossip Column - Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱 - Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream F1 with no contract 📺 Wolff made a very public pursuit of Verstappen after Lewis Hamilton announced in February 2024 that he was leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025, and the Mercedes boss appeared to still be interested in signing the Dutchman last season However, Wolff has insisted in recent months that he is happy with his driver pairing of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, who sit first and second, respectively, at the top of the Drivers' Championship after Sunday's race in Zandvoort. Asked about Verstappen's new contract in an interview with Sky Sports F1 on Saturday in Zandvoort, Wolff said: "Most important was that we had the clarity in the team since a long time. "We're committed to George and Kimi, and in a way, that was just a logical consequence what happened now. "Silly season is officially cancelled now, and everybody can concentrate on the racing." Pushed on whether he felt any disappointment about the length of Verstappen's commitment to Red Bull, Wolff added: "No, not at all. "We know each other well. With Kimi and George, it's the perfect set-up we have and the perfect line-up, so there is no disappointment." Rosberg: I don't think Max had any options The cooling of Wolff's interest in Verstappen appears as though it may have been influenced by the hugely impressive form that has put Antonelli in control of the championship. The Italian, who turned 20 on Tuesday, has unexpectedly outperformed the far more experienced Russell to build a 59-point advantage over his team-mate at the top of the standings. While Mercedes showed huge faith in Antonelli by fast-tracking him in as Hamilton's replacement as a teenager, an inconsistent rookie campaign left doubt over whether he would be able to live up to expectations. However, his 2026 form, which saw him break countless records by winning five successive races after finishing second in the season opener, could potentially have made Wolff reconsider whether bringing Verstappen to Mercedes remained necessary. McLaren appeared to be similarly content with their current driver line-up of reigning world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who have combined to lead the Woking squad to successive constructors' titles. Sky Sports F1 pundit Nico Rosberg, who won the 2016 world championship with Mercedes, said: "It's fantastic news for Formula 1 because Max Verstappen is the greatest driver at the moment, and we want him to stay here. He's a phenomenal driver! "He was thinking about taking some time off, or stopping F1 for a while, so that's great. "I don't think he had any options. He was in talks with McLaren, but I think that was just to strengthen his position at Red Bull. "Red Bull need stability so you offer him a bit more money, and the range is from £70-90m a year, so let's land on £80m - which is a lot of money!" Formula 1 heads to Monza for Ferrari's home race at the Italian Grand Prix on September 4-6, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime