Max Verstappen has once again been linked to Mercedes after being seen, for the second consecutive year, alongside Toto Wolff during the Formula 1 holiday period. The two were accompanied by their partners, Susie Wolff and Kelly Piquet, in images released by the Spanish outlet SoyMotor.
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One of the photos shows Wolff on a jet ski while Verstappen watches from the water next to Kelly Piquet. In other shots, the Dutch driver appears using an electric hydrofoil board and boarding a luxury yacht. The date of the images has not been confirmed, but it is believed that Verstappen was already in Sardinia, where his yacht “Unleash the Lion” docked last Sunday.
The closeness between Verstappen and Wolff reignites speculation about the driver’s future in Formula 1. The Dutchman has been linked to Mercedes in recent years, although the German team maintains Kimi Antonelli and George Russell as their duo for 2027.
Verstappen’s private jet was also highlighted after landing in Salzburg, where Red Bull’s headquarters are located, two days after the Hungarian GP. The aircraft departed from Nice, passed through Sardinia, and then headed to Austria. The reason for the visit and who was on board were not revealed.
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Meanwhile, Verstappen’s future at Red Bull continues to generate doubts. The driver has already been linked to McLaren, but a short-term departure does not seem likely. The most considered options are staying with the Austrian team or taking a temporary break from his career.
According to the German newspaper Bild, Red Bull would have offered the Dutchman a new contract, extending his deal from 2028 to 2029, but without a performance clause like the one present in the current agreement.
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