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Steiner: 'Wolff Too Smart for Verstappen Mercedes Deal'
Former team principal Günther Steiner shares his view on rumors surrounding Max Verstappen and Mercedes, deeming such a move unrealistic.
By Sanne Vermeer - 2026-07-12T18:00:00.000Z - 1 min read
Speculation regarding a potential transfer of Max Verstappen to Mercedes continues to occupy the paddock, but Günther Steiner resolutely sweeps those rumors off the table. The former Haas F1 team principal does not see the Dutch world champion joining Toto Wolff's team anytime soon.
Steiner is convinced that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is simply too intelligent for that. He emphasizes that Wolff acts strategically and deliberately, rather than stepping blindly into a scenario that presents more long-term problems than solutions.
Indeed, bringing in Verstappen would carry massive financial consequences for the German squad. The costs associated with securing a driver of this caliber are substantial, and according to Steiner, Wolff would not accept that lightly.
For the calculating Wolff, this financial burden and the complexity of such a mega-transfer likely fail to outweigh the potential sporting benefits. For that reason, Steiner regards a move by Verstappen to Mercedes as a virtually unthinkable scenario.