Toto Wolff Admits He Is ‘Not At All’ Disappointed by Max Verstappen’s Decision to Stay at Red Bull as Nico Rosberg Reveals the Contract’s Eye-Watering Value

• Toto Wolff says he is “not at all” disappointed that Max Verstappen has signed a Red Bull contract extension through 2030
• Sky Sports F1 pundit Nico Rosberg claims Verstappen’s new deal is worth in the region of £80m a year, calling it “a lot of money”
• Wolff points to Mercedes’ current driver pairing of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, who sit first and second in the championship, as reasons his interest in signing Verstappen has cooled

Toto Wolff has dismissed any suggestion that he is unhappy about missing out on Max Verstappen, after the four-time world champion ended months of speculation by committing his future to Red Bull until 2030.

Verstappen’s previous contract had been set to run until 2028, but exit clauses would have allowed him to leave for a rival team as early as 2027. Both Mercedes and McLaren had been repeatedly linked with the Dutchman before Red Bull confirmed the extension ahead of his home race at Zandvoort.

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Wolff Insists There Is “No Disappointment”

Wolff pursued Verstappen publicly after Lewis Hamilton announced in February 2024 that he would leave Mercedes for Ferrari, and he appeared to still hold an interest in signing the Dutchman as recently as last season. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 in Zandvoort on Saturday, Wolff explained why that interest has faded.

“Most important was that we had the clarity in the team since a long time,” Wolff said. “We’re committed to George and Kimi, and in a way, that was just a logical consequence what happened now. Silly season is officially cancelled now, and everybody can concentrate on the racing.”

Asked directly whether he felt any disappointment about the length of Verstappen’s new commitment to Red Bull, Wolff gave a blunt answer. “No, not at all,” he said. “We know each other well. With Kimi and George, it’s the perfect set-up we have and the perfect line-up, so there is no disappointment.”

Antonelli’s Form Changed the Equation

Wolff’s cooling interest in Verstappen lines up with the rise of Antonelli, who turned 20 on Tuesday and now holds a 59-point advantage over teammate Russell at the top of the drivers’ standings. Mercedes fast-tracked the Italian into Hamilton’s old seat as a teenager, and an inconsistent rookie campaign initially left doubt over whether he could handle the step up.

That doubt has evaporated in 2026. Antonelli broke a string of records by winning five consecutive races after finishing second in the season opener, results that have put him firmly in control of the title fight and made a move for Verstappen look far less necessary for Mercedes.

McLaren, for their part, appear equally settled with their own pairing of reigning world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who have combined to deliver back-to-back constructors’ titles for the Woking squad.

Verstappen’s Own Take on Staying Put

Verstappen himself described the decision as a natural continuation of a relationship he has never wanted to leave. Announcing the extension earlier in the week, he said: “I am really pleased with the contract extension. We have the best people and I’m excited to keep working together with everyone to get back to the top again. This remains the ultimate goal that all of us have been working towards and will continue to pursue.”

“I have always said it: the team is like a second family for me and I feel very at home,” he added. “I came to the team hoping to be able to win races. What we went on to achieve together has been simply lovely, and we have shared many incredible moments and won four World Championships.”

Rosberg Puts a Number on the Deal

Sky Sports F1 pundit Nico Rosberg, who won the world title with Mercedes in 2016, welcomed Verstappen’s decision to stay put and offered his own theory on why the Dutchman never seriously considered leaving.

“It’s fantastic news for Formula 1 because Max Verstappen is the greatest driver at the moment, and we want him to stay here,” Rosberg said. “He’s a phenomenal driver! He was thinking about taking some time off, or stopping F1 for a while, so that’s great.”

Rosberg went further, arguing that a move away from Red Bull was never truly on the table for Verstappen. “I don’t think he had any options,” he said. “He was in talks with McLaren, but I think that was just to strengthen his position at Red Bull. Red Bull need stability so you offer him a bit more money, and the range is from £70-90m a year, so let’s land on £80m, which is a lot of money!”

No official salary figures have been confirmed by Red Bull, but it is understood that Verstappen, 28, has secured a pay rise as part of the new deal. The contract also leaves open the possibility of a return to V8 engines before it expires in 2030, a scenario Verstappen has said could lead him to reassess his future in the sport.

With the contract question settled, Formula 1 now turns its attention to Monza and the Italian Grand Prix on September 4-6, where Antonelli will look to extend his advantage at the top of the standings.

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Written by

Jack Renn

Jack Renn is an editor at F1 Chronicle and a veteran motorsport journalist with 25 years of experience covering Formula 1 and international motorsport. A member of the Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive (AIPS), the global body representing accredited sports journalists, Jack has spent his career reporting from paddocks and press rooms across the F1 calendar. His work spans race analysis, technical insight, and in-depth features, giving readers authoritative coverage grounded in decades of firsthand experience at the highest level of the sport.

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