Images of Max Verstappen and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff apparently on holiday have leaked on social media on Wednesday. The images, which also feature Susie Wolff and Kelly Piquet, have caused quite a stir online amid uncertainty regarding Verstappen’s future in F1.
The end of the Hungarian GP marked the beginning of the F1 summer break, during which all teams are mandated to stop all work for two weeks, and the calendar pauses for about a month. This also comes with the beginning of the “silly season”, as drivers begin working on finalizing their deals and contracts for the subsequent year.
The biggest story this summer break is set to be around Max Verstappen, as the Dutchman’s future at Red Bull Racing remains uncertain amid multiple reports of strained relations between the driver’s camp and the team. And just three days into the summer break, images of Verstappen with Mercedes F1 CEO and team principal Toto Wolff on holiday have leaked online, serving only as fuel to the fire.
In the images, Wolff and his wife, Susie, can be seen sitting on a jet ski, while Verstappen and his girlfriend, Kelly, are in the water, with the two couples in conversation.
Images of Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff together while on holiday with their respective partners had also leaked last summer, which also came amid uncertainty over the 4x world champion’s future. Last year, Verstappen was heavily linked with a move to Mercedes, but ended up staying at Red Bull.
This time around, Wolff has already publicly said that he wishes for continuity with the driver lineup in 2027, hinting that Kimi Antonelli and George Russell are set to stay with no room for Verstappen. The more likely destination for the 28-year-old if he leaves Milton Keynes in 2027 is reported to be McLaren, with the British team said to be in conversations with the driver’s camp, according to PlanetF1.
F1 pundit believes Max Verstappen will move to Mercedes in 2027
F1 pundit Rachel Brookes has said that she believes Max Verstappen will end up at Mercedes in 2027. The British reporter has also said that the driver may be done at Red Bull, and will want to join a team where he can win races on a consistent basis again.
“I still think Max is looking for an exit,” said Brookes [via the Essential F1 podcast].
“I feel that Max will still go to Mercedes [in 2027]. It’s just in my head still, Toto missed out on him before, I think that still bugs him. I think he would feel like it would be a massive coup to get him from Red Bull now,” she also added.
Brookes also shared a hypothetical scenario where Max Verstappen could trigger the silly season in 2026, with her saying that it could lead to George Russell joining McLaren while Oscar Piastri joins Red Bull.
Edited by Samyak Sharma