Toto Wolff held talks with Max Verstappen (Image: Getty)
has revealed that there was ‘never a plan’ to bring into for the 2025 season, but admitted that the two parties ‘always talked’ during ’s period of internal turmoil in 2024.
Verstappen’s future at was thrown into question during the early stages of the 2024 season after team principal faced accusations of inappropriate behaviour from an employee – allegations that he denied throughout and was later cleared of – and close ally Helmut Marko’s position was put at risk after internal relations with Horner frayed.
During this spell, Verstappen was constantly linked with , and the Dutchman’s father, Jos, was even spotted engaging in talks with Wolff. However, with the Silver Arrows struggling to extract performance from the W15, the now-four-time world champion opted to stay put.
Speaking to about the negotiations, Wolff said: “There was never a plan. We always talked and kept the line of communication open. At some point, he said that he wanted to stay where he was for now because it felt right to him. And I said we’d go with Kimi [Antonelli] because it felt right to us, too. And now we’ll see where it all takes us.”
Admitting the talks himself after winning a fourth Drivers’ Championship crown in 2024, Verstappen explained: “The big teams are always interesting, but on the other hand, I’m also in a very big team. I’ve achieved a lot of success with them. It also just feels like a second family.
“Look, of course, we always talk to each other. And I don’t lie about the fact that we’ve sat together. We had very constructive conversations, I think everyone has always been very honest and open with each other.
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Max Verstappen is staying put at Red Bull for now (Image: Getty)
“But on the other hand, I am also very loyal to my own team, and I just feel at home there. So, then, there is actually not much to achieve at the moment. I am still very young, so a lot can still happen in the future.”
With Verstappen unavailable, Wolff promoted 18-year-old junior driver Antonelli to partner for the 2025 season. The teenager has been tipped as a potential future world champion throughout his glittering junior career and will now get a chance to shine on the biggest stage of all.
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Given the immense hype and intrigue surrounding Antonelli’s rookie campaign, Wolff is staying cautious. “If you expect him to be on pole position in Melbourne, win the race and immediately fight for the championship, then the risk is high because that won’t happen,” he said.
“If we approach it in such a way that the boy is 18 years old, very talented, but of course has to grow into it first and will make mistakes, then the risk is limited. That’s why we’re doing it. We see 2025 as a transition year and want to prepare him for 2026.