Wolff compares a potential Russell-Verstappen line-up to the Prost-Senna duo
Amid persistent talks about reigning champion Max Verstappen's future, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has compared a potentian George Russell-Max Verstappen line up to the legendary Ayrton Senna-Alain Prost duo.
Despite being under contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season, Max Verstappen's future looks to hang in balance. The reigning champion has been heavily linked with a move to Mercedes for next season over recent weeks, but a move to Aston Martin has also been mentioned several times.
It is believed that the reigning four-time World Champion will be free to activate an exit clause if he is lower than fourth in the Drivers’ standings following next weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Speaking about the uncertainty regarding Verstappen's future, Wolff stated signing Verstappen to partner George Russell would have created a line-up as strong but also as risky as Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna at McLaren in the late 1980s.
"This [Russell and Verstappen] is all more in the let's say long-shot, far-fetched [ideas] because I want to stay with Kimi and George as it stands.
"Everything else is not realistic but obviously [if] you have a Russell/Verstappen line-up that's Prost/Senna I guess, no?"
Explaining how Mercedes' young drivers' programme works, Wolff said: "We try to pick up young drivers very early in their careers and we are financing all of it so we're not asking any contribution from the parents or any sponsors.
"And for that at a certain time we have the managerial rights and it's very similar to what Red Bull has. I think it's more that you guys make a lot of pressure and because it's an interesting topic it's completely normal.
"We have those negotiations and those discussions, every driver wants to have a better car and more money. Completely normal behaviour and that's not going to be the crucial point."
