Confirmed! Wolff and Verstappen really met in Italy

Earlier in the day, photos of a meeting between the Mercedes team boss and the Formula 1 world champion were leaked.

There was still some doubt about whether the photos were genuine, but that uncertainty has now been dispelled.

The photos may not have appeared real because they were taken from a great distance by paparazzi.

Mercedes doesn't usually comment on paparazzi-like photos like this one, but can confirm that the photos are genuine.

It's a fact that Toto Wolff and Max Verstappen have known each other for a long time, maintain a good relationship, and have children of roughly the same age (Penelope, Max's stepdaughter, and Jack, Wolff's son, ed.).

In that light, it's not surprising that they spend time together on vacation, if they happen to be in the same place—similar to running into each other in the paddock.

Earlier this year, there was talk of Verstappen's possible move to Mercedes. It didn't come to that, as the Dutchman opted for a longer stay at Red Bull Racing.

In the run-up to Verstappen's confirmation for 2026, there were also rumours about a friendly meeting between Wolff and Verstappen in Sardinia. This was denied at the time.