Toto Wolff sees his double job offer rejected in major blow to Lewis Hamilton plan
Toto Wolff made an offer for a rival to replace Lewis Hamilton in 2025
Helmut Marko has declined Toto Wolff’s cheeky offer of a job at Mercedes alongside Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. Speculation has mounted that Marko could leave Red Bull amid reported tensions within the racing team’s hierarchy, which could have a knock-on effect for Verstappen.
Mercedes team principal Wolff joked that jobs would be available for Marko and Verstappen if they depart Red Bull. The Silver Arrows will lose Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari at the start of 2025, opening a driver’s seat for Verstappen to potentially take.
However, Wolff’s speculative plan to replace Hamilton with rival Verstappen was over before it had truly begun, with Marko insisting that he will not join Mercedes. Three-times world champion Verstappen has frequently hinted that he could leave Red Bull if his mentor Marko is forced out.
Red Bull technical advisor Marko, who turns 81 in April, told De Telegraaf: “That's very nice, but at the moment I can gratefully decline this offer."
It comes after he told Sky Germany that he would not consider moving to Mercedes when Verstappen’s Red Bull contract expires in 2028. He said: “That is a long time… I was really thankful for how loyal Max was. I was impressed. We are not going to Mercedes together at the moment."
It had been speculated that Marko was at the centre of leaked messages purportedly involving Christian Horner. He shut down those suggestions to Sky Germany, saying: "Well, I have to quote [Niki] Lauda here: 'That’s complete nonsense’.
"I'm happy if I can use my phone to some extent. I have never seen the report or viewed any of these chats and have deliberately stayed out of it.”
Marko revealed that he was the subject of an investigation by Red Bull last week, which is reported to have centred around the leak of alleged text messages to journalists, team bosses and Formula One chiefs. The Austrian, who denies being involved, admitted that the investigation could have led to his suspension.
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Verstappen, who is extremely close with Marko, has called for harmony in the team. The Dutchman, who has won both Grands Prix to kick off the 2024 season, said: "I always said that what is most important is that we work together as a team and that everyone keeps the peace. And that's what we, I think, all agree on within the team. So hopefully from now on, that is also fully the case.
"Everyone is trying to focus in the same direction. And I think the positive out of all this is that it didn't hurt our performances. So it's a very strong team.
"I think also mentally, what you can see from not only driver's side, but also mechanics, engineers, everyone is there to do their job. And I think everyone, even when there is stuff going on or whatever, they're just very focused on their job as they should be."