SPIELBERG — Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said he has not spoken to Max Verstappen about a possible switch to his team amid speculation linking the 21-year-old Red Bull driver to the Formula One champions. The Dutchman, one of the hottest properties in the sport and on the front row for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix, has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2020. However German publication Auto, Motor und Sport recently quoted Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko expressing concern that Mercedes were lining up a bid for Verstappen if exit clauses were triggered. Mercedes also have highly-rated 22-year-old French driver Esteban Ocon, currently without a seat, on their books. Hamilton, sitting alongside the Red Bull driver in the post-qualifying press conference, said it was all news to him.

Source: National Post June 29, 2019 20:48 UTC