“Do I Regret Losing Max? Certainly, but…”: Toto Wolff Blames Red Bull’s $700,000,000 Privilege for Failing to Unite Lewis Hamilton With Verstappen

As Max Verstappen continues to shine in Formula 1, Toto Wolff‘s regret over not signing the Dutch phenom remains. Formula 1 is filled with what-ifs and missed opportunities, and one such regret lingers in the Mercedes boss’s mind. As the current reigning world champion Max Verstappen continues to dominate the sport, Wolff reflects on the time when he had the chance to bring the Dutch sensation into the Mercedes family. However, due to a crucial shortcoming relative to Red Bull, the opportunity slipped through Mercedes’ fingers.

In an interview with ESPN, Toto Wolff openly admits his regret at not being able to secure Verstappen’s services. He reveals that discussions took place between him and Verstappen in late 2013 and early 2014. However, the timing did not align, and Mercedes had their hands full with their current drivers, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. In 2014, Verstappen had already committed to Red Bull and subsequently secured a starting contract with Toro Rosso, now the AlphaTauri team worth $700,000,000.

The pivotal factor that hampered Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes was the absence of a junior team like Red Bull’s AlphaTauri. This “team B” structure allowed Max to make his debut in F1 while honing his skills.

Toto Wolff admits, “If I regret losing Max? Certainly , but at the time it was not an option. We had two drivers that I was extremely happy with, Nico [Rosberg] and Lewis [Hamilton], and when Nico left, Valtteri [Bottas] was the option and Max [Verstappen] wasn’t even available anymore.“ With the likes of Rosberg and Hamilton already delivering exceptional performances for Mercedes, the team was content with their driver lineup.

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As Max Verstappen’s success continues to soar, one can’t help but wonder what would have happened if he and Lewis Hamilton had been teammates, driving for the same team with equal machinery. Would their combined talents have rewritten the record books?

Toto Wolff Dreaming About a Hypothetical Team ft. Max Verstappen

Toto Wolff acknowledges the potential of a Verstappen-Hamilton partnership but raises doubts about its success. He explains, “If Max and Lewis together would have worked? Maybe not.” While the combination of Verstappen’s raw speed and Hamilton’s strategic approach seems like a dream scenario, Wolff believes that organizational factors and Hamilton’s unwavering loyalty to Mercedes made the decision easier.

“Lewis has always been a Mercedes man,” states Wolff, emphasizing Hamilton’s deep connection with the team. This loyalty ensured stability and focus within the Mercedes camp. Wolff further adds, “Everything happens for a reason. I already had two drivers in the team, no agreement with a junior team, and so it was clear that the option with Toro Rosso was what they had to do. And they did well.” 

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The tantalizing prospect of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton as teammates may forever remain a “what if”. But could their contrasting styles have ignited an even fiercer competition on the track?