Steiner doubts Mercedes will pursue Verstappen, calling Wolff too smart to disrupt strong line-up

Guenther Steiner has poured cold water on rumours connecting Max Verstappen to Mercedes, insisting that team principal Toto Wolff is “too smart” to pursue a move that would cost significantly more than the Brackley outfit’s current driver pairing and risk destabilising a competitive line-up.

Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, the former Haas team principal argued there is no compelling reason for Mercedes to chase the four-time champion. “Why would Mercedes take him? Mercedes has got the next superstar and a very good driver in George,” Steiner said. “So why would you spend more money to get Max in? The only way Max would come in is if George leaves. He costs a lot more than George and would maybe unsettle Kimi. Why would he do that? And Toto is too smart to do that, in my opinion, and it costs a lot more.”

Verstappen’s future has attracted intense speculation in recent weeks, fuelled by his public frustration with the RB22. Following a rear wing mechanical failure at the British Grand Prix, the Dutchman was vocal on team radio about the car’s performance and reliability, prompting widespread reports linking him to both Mercedes and McLaren.

Steiner also questioned where Verstappen could realistically land even if he did leave Red Bull. “If he doesn’t like Red Bull, there are places where he can go, but they don’t have the money to pay him, and they don’t have the car he wants,” he said.

The context behind the speculation is stark. After narrowly losing the 2025 drivers’ championship to McLaren’s Lando Norris, Verstappen finds himself seventh in the 2026 standings with 76 points after nine rounds. At the top of the table sits Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli with 179 points — a gap that underlines both the Silver Arrows’ current strength and the scale of Red Bull’s struggles this season.

Steiner’s comments suggest that, whatever Verstappen’s dissatisfaction at Red Bull, the path to a high-profile exit remains far from straightforward.