While Verstappen struggles with Red Bull's RB22, speculation has increased over his future, with F1 Nation's Jolyon Palmer suggesting talks between Verstappen and Mercedes are "going to happen," while Damon Hill warned George Russell that he is "always temporary" despite a strong start to 2026.

Mercedes boss Wolff, who has had a long-term interest in Verstappen, was asked about the continued rumours by Austrian publication oe24, and said he was astonished by such "silly" speculation cropping up as early as March.

Wolff said: "It's silly enough that you normally have to discuss these things in July. I don't know who brought this up again.

"We have two drivers with whom we have long-term, multi-year contracts. I couldn't be happier with either of them.

After it was confirmed that Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso will sit out FP1 in Japan for American talent Jak Crawford, the Silverstone team also announced the Spaniard would miss Thursday's media day due to "personal family reasons."

In a statement on social media, Aston Martin said: "Fernando is arriving slightly later this weekend for personal family reasons and won’t be attending media day at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Reports have since emerged that the family reason in question is the imminent birth of Alonso and long-time partner Melissa Jimenez' first child.

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