Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has ruled out signing Max Verstappen for the 2027 Formula One season, confirming George Russell and championship leader Kimi Antonelli will remain the team's driver lineup while keeping the four-time world champion firmly on the team's long-term radar.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 ahead of Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix, Wolff said Mercedes' immediate priority is maintaining stability after a dominant start to Formula One's new regulations era.
But he also made it clear the prospect of pairing Verstappen with Antonelli remains a possibility beyond 2027.
"We will not shy away from perhaps having them both in the team at some stage," Wolff said. "You must give Kimi time to develop. Max is at his peak, he can do anything."
Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull through the end of 2028, although his deal is widely believed to include performance-related exit clauses that could allow him to leave earlier under certain circumstances.
