Mercedes' Toto Wolff had ‘quite a laugh’ at Max Verstappen rumours

Toto Wolff says Mercedes has no plans to engage in any contract-related discussions with Red𒐪 Bull Formula ಌ1 driver Max Verstappen.

Verstappen opted to join Red Bull’s junior programme overꦉ Mercedes’ back in 2014 as he enjoyed a meteoric rise up the single-seater ladder, before making his F1 debut with꧟ Toro Rosso in 2015 and then graduating to the senior team the following season.

Wolff had ‘quite a laugh’ at Verstappen-Mercedes rumours

Toto Wolff says Mercedes has no plans to engage in any contract-related discussions with Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Veꦅrstap🎃pen.

Verstappen opted to join Red Bull’s junior programme over Mercedes’ back in 2014 as🀅 he enjoyed a meteoric rise up the single-seater ladder, before making his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2015 and then graduating to the se🍸nior team the following season.

Speculation surrounding Mercedes’ supposed continued interest in Verstappen has been rife over the last few years, with reports in Germany quoting Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko as saying that Wolff has repeatedly calಞled the Dutchman in recent months.

But Wolff said he has laughed off the rumours with bot🅰h Verstappen and his father Jos.

“We had quite a laugh about that, all three of us. I haven’t got Max’s number and I’ve never spoken to him on💃 the ♛phone,” Wolff explained.

“As Max said rightly꧙, ꦛI know Jos since a long time and I would consider him a friend. We talk about babies and go-karting, and when do we put our baby kids in a go-kart together and which team are we going to set up.

“T🐻here’s no talk about Max or his contract. I think for the right reasons, Max i💜s very committed to the Honda-Red Bull situation, and rightly so, we are committed to our drivers.

“We are not planning to e༺ngage in other discussions, and nor are Jos or Max, so I don’t know where that came from.”

Wolff had ‘quite a laugh’ at Verstappen-Mercedes rumours

Verstappen currently trails world championship leader Lewis Hamilton by 29 points in the drivers’ standings, a🌼head of Ferrari pairing Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc.

Five-time world champion Hamilton is tied down to Mercedes until the end of 2020, while Mercedes has an option to extend Valtteri Bottas’ current deal into a fourth te⛦rm next season.

“After a day like today, where we are P1 and P2 I’m not considering a🍌ny other drivers for the short term,” Wolff said after Mercedes recorded its third ♋straight one-two finish of 2019 at the Chinese Grand Prix.

“What happ🍌ens after 2020 will be first discussed with Valtteri ♑and Lewis. Once that decision is taken, then we will turn to the paddock.

“But hopefully the line-up goes forever.”

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