Toto Wolff reveals reason behind Max Verstappen snub

  • Published on 20 Dec 2016 16:39
  • comments 0
  • By: Dominik Wilde

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff has revealed the reason why the team did not sign Max Verstappen when it had the chance to in 2014.

When Verstappen was making waves in Formula Three, it was understood that he was courting interest from both Red Bull and Mercedes.

The teenager eventually signed for Red Bull and was announced as a Formula One driver for the following season just six days later.

Now Toto Wolff has revealed that Mercedes didn't feel they could give Verstappen the same opportunity as Red Bull, with their lack of junior team and, at the time, fully-contracted driver lineup.

"We simply had no availability for him, so Red Bull was his best option," admitted Wolff.

"We are not disappointed with anything in the past," he insisted.

"I wanted to find him a place, but with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg we have the perfect driver pairing - so far we have won two constructors championships and it is looking good again - so there was the logical thing, to stay with those two."

Verstappen has since gone on to become a race winner in F1, but Wolff was all to aware of the Dutchman's potential early on.

"He was an exceptional kid in karts," Wolff said. "Then he won in the Formula Three championship against all odds with an inferior car."

"Esteban Ocon [now Mercedes young driver programme member] was his opponent then - that says a lot," he added. "But yes, the real test is F1 - and now we see the result."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 2,638
  • Podiums 100
  • Grand Prix 187
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (26)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar