‘Why on earth would he want to leave?’ Red Bull chief Christian Horner insists Max Verstappen won’t be departing for Mercedes after Toto Wolff once again tried to woo the world champion

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff believes Red Bull’s ongoing dominance in the sport will not be the only factor that decides Max Verstappen‘s future – and hinted that there remains a chance the Dutchman could still consider joining Mercedes, despite their ongoing struggles.

Verstappen claimed an emphatic victory at Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix to extend his lead in the championship to 25 points and remains under contract with Red Bull until 2028.

There was speculation, though, over his future in the wake of allegations of misconduct against Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

Horner was later cleared of allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female employee in an internal inquiry.

Wolff has publicly flirted with the idea of joining forces with Verstappen at Mercedes and previously called it a relationship that ‘needs to happen at some stage.’

Max Verstappen’s future was again the subject of speculation after his victory in Shanghai

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff (left) once again mentioned Verstappen’s Red Bull future, only to be given a stiff rejoinder by Christian Horner (right)

The Austrian did little to shut down such speculation after Sunday’s race in Shanghai.

‘There are so many factors that play a role for a driver joining,’ said Wolff, who has also previously conceded that ‘Red Bull is the quickest car so that will always be the priority’.

‘Clearly when you look at it from the most rational point of view, you can say ‘well that’s the quickest car in the hands of the quickest driver’.

‘But I don’t think that this is the only reason you stay where you are. For, let’s say, simple minds, that might be the only reason you stay in a car and that’s it.

There was no doubt in Horner’s mind over Verstappen’s future, though, when Wolff’s comments were put to him.

‘It is about how he feels in the team, the relationship he has in the team and the way he is performing,’ said Horner.

‘I don’t think Toto’s problems are his drivers. He has other elements he needs to focus on, rather than focusing on drivers that are unavailable.

Wolff speaks with Red Bull driver Sergio Perez and director Helmut Marko in Shanghai

Verstappen took another dominant victory at the first Chinese Grand Prix in five years

‘I don’t know how many more times Max can say he is staying? He has said it numerous times. Sometimes it is just designed to create noise.

‘Why on earth would you want to leave this team? Mercedes are behind at the moment.

‘His time would be better spent focusing on the team than the driver market. I can assure you that there is no ambiguity as to where Max Verstappen will be next year.’