Toto Wolff risks making critical Max Verstappen mistake as F1 heartbreak still possible

is in a difficult spot with his 2026 driver line-up as remains on the market amidst a challenging spell for . However, with still unsigned for next year, the boss should act fast to avoid losing his star driver. Mercedes are currently racing with a driver line-up comprised entirely of academy graduates, with Russell and 18-year-old team-mate Kimi Antonelli enjoying a strong start to the 2025 campaign.

However, the Brit has not yet penned a new deal to keep him with the team into the new technical regulation period in 2026. Likely playing a role in this is Verstappen's availability. Despite Wolff's comments stating that he has no plans to 'flirt outside of the relationship' with his incumbent drivers, the Austrian is a known admirer of the four-time world champion, and it would be hard to pass up the opportunity to bring him to Brackley.

That said, if Verstappen does decide that his best chance of securing more Drivers' Championship titles lies outside of Red Bull, Aston Martin could be the more appealing opportunity. With an immense compensation package being reported and the opportunity to reunite with Adrian Newey and Honda, Team Silverstone has a compelling case to make.

On the surface, Wolff's path forward is therefore simple: resign Russell if Verstappen opts against a move to Brackley. However, following a report from The Race explaining that Christian Horner has held preliminary talks over the Brit's availability, the possibility of driver market disaster remains.

If Verstappen leaves Red Bull for Aston Martin and Russell remains without a contract for 2026, the 27-year-old will surely be at the very top of Horner's shopping list.

His performances in 2025 have been a continuation of the back-end of 2024, marking him out as one of F1's biggest talents. In fact, after six rounds of the campaign, Russell trails Verstappen by just six points in the Drivers' Championship standings.

This sequence of events would leave Wolff without a team leader for 2026, and would no doubt hurt more given his long-standing rivalry with Horner and Red Bull. Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc are all tied down to long-term contracts, too, making matters worse for the Silver Arrows.

For Wolff, then, the answer is simple: It's time to break Mercedes' trend of waiting until the summer break, and delve into contract talks with Russell at the nearest possible opportunity to steer clear of an avoidable F1 heartbreak that is waiting to happen.