Mercedes are planning a dream team that should cause a shockwave across the Formula One fraternity.
The F1 giants are looking to sign Max Verstappen from Red Bull to form a dream team alongside George Russell, despite the fact that the two drivers share a history of bad blood.
Toto Wolff has confirmed that they have held behind-closed-doors talks to sign the four-time F1 world champion as Mercedes are exploring future plans.
Russell, who is out of contract next year, has also confirmed the news.
Wolff said: “There is no delay in George’s contract negotiations because it’s pretty clear, since a long time, what our timings were and are.
“We have known each other for such a long time, so there is no such thing as a delay.
“As team principal of the best car brand in the world, it’s clear you explore what a four-time world champion will do in the future,
“That could be long into the future. That has no effect on us putting a signature on George’s contract.”
Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until 2028. However, he has a break clause in his deal that allows him to move elsewhere.
Right now, Mercedes have a formidable pair of Russell and Kimi Antonelli, but they can reach a different level if Verstappen joins them.
When Wolf was asked if he would consider breaking the current partnership to bring Verstappen, he said: “You make it sound like we have been asking ‘when do you want to join and what are the terms?’
“That’s not how it is and how it works. And I come back to my previous question.
“I want to just have the conversations behind closed doors not in town halls. And we have two drivers that have been in our programme since a long time.
“Drivers that I’m perfectly happy to have. Drivers that will do great in the future of the team. So it’s a bit of a different situation.”
Fans must be wondering how Russell and Verstappen will form a pair when they have such a bad history between them.
In the Spanish Grand Prix this year, Verstappen rammed into the British driver, as if it were a contact sport, leaving Russell furious.
When asked if the pair could drive together at Mercedes, Wolff added: “I can imagine every line-up.”
To be fair, Lewis Hamilton formed a team with Nico Rosberg, and they fought for the world championship simultaneously. So, why not?