Jos Verstappen and Wolff spotted together: What did they talk about in Canada?

Toto Wolff and Jos Verstappen aren’t naive. If the pair sit prominently on the Mercedes terrace while journalists are milling around on Formula 1 media day, they’re well aware photos will be taken and there will be stories written. It very much looks like Verstappen Sr. and Wolff wanted to make a small statement by being seen so conspicuously in a friendly conversation.

That Wolff and Jos Verstappen get along well is no secret. A little over a decade ago, it was a close call whether the then very young Max would sign a contract not with Red Bull, but with Mercedes. At that moment, Wolff couldn’t offer the Dutchman a Formula 1 seat, whereas Helmut Marko could on Red Bull’s behalf.

There was no collaboration, but the bond between Wolff and the Verstappens remained, even during the period when Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fought for the world title in 2021. Meanwhile, Wolff kept an eye on the opportunity to bring Verstappen to his team after all and usher in a new era of success at Mercedes together. So far, that partnership hasn’t materialized, although the Austrian seemed close last season.

Who knows what might be possible next year if Verstappen, as it currently appears, has the option to unilaterally terminate his ongoing contract with Red Bull Racing. Should the former world champion look elsewhere, Mercedes would be a very logical destination for him. The fact that Wolff has Kimi Antonelli and George Russell under contract for next season is of little relevance. No doubt Wolff has clauses with them allowing him to part ways with one of them.

When Wolff has been asked in recent months whether Max Verstappen is an option for 2027, the CEO talks about how happy he is with his current driver pairing. If you listen closely, you’ll never hear Wolff give a hard “no” to questions about Verstappen. As mentioned, Wolff isn’t naive. He has to keep all options open, and that may also be how this conversation with Verstappen is being viewed. That's exactly what Jos Verstappen is doing as well.

As soon as the media ask Wolff on Sunday after the Grand Prix what his meeting with Verstappen Sr. was about, he’ll likely say it was a chat between old friends and nothing more should be read into it. But is it really plausible that not a single second was spent discussing what Max Verstappen might do in 2027? Did Jos truly only talk about the grandchildren and Wolff about his vacation plans? Hardly.

By taking such a conspicuous seat on the terrace, fully visible to the entire Formula 1 paddock, Verstappen and Wolff are sending a message. The former F1 driver signals to Red Bull that the car’s performance really needs to improve, or else… And Wolff also does so to his drivers Antonelli and especially Russell: their performance must remain high, because the Austrian knows someone who could potentially take one of their seats.

One thing no one should doubt: if Max Verstappen decides to swap Red Bull Racing for another team, Mercedes is a very, very serious candidate to land the Dutchman.