Red Bull's Managing Director Oliver Mintzlaff has issued a stark warning to Mercedes' CEO Toto Wolff regarding his public overtures towards star driver Max Verstappen. The rebuke follows Wolff's comments admiring Verstappen amidst Mercedes' pursuit of replacing seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton who is set to join Ferrari in 2025.
Mintzlaff, responding to Wolff's comments, firmly reestablished Verstappen's commitment to Red Bull. He articulated the importance of the Mercedes chief focusing on internal team challenges rather than eyeing talents contracted with rival teams.
"This is a decision that Max needs to take, but there is no team up and down the grid that wouldn't do handstands to have him in the car," Wolff had previously stated as quoted by ESPN, acknowledging the allure Verstappen holds across the Formula 1 grid. He added, touching on the difficulties that the team has faced with the ground-effect cars, "I'd love to have him, but first we need to sort out our car. First, we owe it to George [Russell] and Lewis [Hamilton] to improve the car and give them equipment that is good before dreaming about the future next year."
Countering this, Mintzlaff was explicit in his disapproval of Wolff's public courtship of Verstappen. "I understand the pressure that Toto Wolff and perhaps other teams have after years of being behind, but I think Toto should concentrate on his challenges. He has enough of those," Mintzlaff expressed in an interview with Bild Am Sonntag, as quoted by Pit Pass. He underscored the disrespect perceived in discussing another team's key assets, stating, "It also has something to do with respect. If I keep talking about the personnel of other teams, that's not right."
Mintzlaff also highlighted that Verstappen has not shown any desire to abandon his current team, reinforcing the strong relationship and trust built between him and Red Bull's leadership, including Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.
"Max still has a long-term contract here and hasn't said a word that he doesn't want to fulfil it," he said. "I'm not at all worried that he's considering a move. Things just have to calm down again now. That's what Max wants, and that's what we want too.
"At least I can't think of any. Max wants the fastest car... we have this. Max wants to become world champion... with us, he has the best chances.
"Max is a loyal guy," he added. "He knows that Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have always placed their trust in him. He appreciates that. In addition, Red Bull is simply a great brand that he can extremely identify with. So there are many reasons for staying, and none against."
Additionally, Mintzlaff addressed the shocking exit of Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, who will be leaving the team in 2025. He commented:
"Adrian has done great things here over the years and played a big part in us winning 13 world championship titles.
"It's obviously a shame that he's leaving us, but we discussed it in a very fair and respectful dialogue. What he leaves behind is not only a unique legacy but also a structure that he helped to build.
"Of course, we will miss him, also as a person, but tomorrow we will still know how to build a very fast Formula 1 car."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
