Mercedes Components One workforce boss Toto Wolff has knocked again hypothesis a few assembly with Max Verstappen’s administration after this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.

Mercedes are in search of a alternative for seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, who’s becoming a member of Ferrari on the finish of the season.

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Experiences in Germany have recommended Verstappen’s father, Jos, and supervisor, Raymond Vermeulen, would meet Mercedes workforce co-owners Wolff, Ineos boss Jim Ratcliffe and Mercedes Benz CEO Ola Kallenius.

Requested about it at an occasion in New York on Monday evening for workforce accomplice WhatsApp, with a race automotive emoji projected onto the Empire State Constructing lit up in inexperienced, Wolff instructed Reuters Tv: “No, that is one of many rumours.

“Folks make up conferences, make up what’s occurring with the drivers however these items must be behind closed doorways and every little thing that is been on the market was probably not the precise factor.”

Wolff, who has recognized Verstappen’s father for years, has made no secret that he want to signal Verstappen as Hamilton’s alternative though the Dutch driver has a Purple Bull contract till 2028.

Verstappen is cruising in direction of his fourth successive title with Purple Bull, having received 4 of 5 races up to now this season, regardless of inner divisions ensuing from a feminine worker’s allegations of inappropriate behaviour in opposition to workforce boss Christian Horner.

Horner has been cleared of the allegations, which he denied, and stays in cost however Verstappen senior has mentioned the workforce dangers being torn aside if Horner stayed.

The way forward for the workforce’s high designer Adrian Newey can also be unsure, with media reviews final week that the technical head was in search of to depart Purple Bull.

“Adrian Newey is an iconic engineer in Components One with an amazing observe document and once more, additionally there are such a lot of individuals speaking about what he ultimately would possibly do and whether or not he leaves Purple Bull or not,” mentioned Wolff.

“I am simply it like a fan and watching that area.”

Mercedes are bringing an improve bundle to Miami after a patchy season up to now.

Hamilton completed runner-up within the first dash of the season in Shanghai on April 24 however has in any other case but to complete greater than seventh. Teammate George Russell has a finest grand prix end of fifth, and Mercedes are fourth total within the constructors’ standings.

“We do not actually know what to anticipate as a result of it has been a tough season up to now. Let’s have a look at what the stopwatch says,” Wolff mentioned, who attended Monday’s occasion with Hamilton.

Hamilton is because of take the wheel at an F1 demonstration run on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue on Tuesday.

The Mercedes automotive additionally has a ‘WhatsApp button” on the steering wheel that drivers can press once they need to speak to their engineers.

“WhatsApp is all about safe and immediate communication and the primary interplay between the motive force and the engineers is by way of that button … it is such an revolutionary thought that every one of us got here up with and we’re very proud,” Wolff added.