Toto Wolff’s public 💝pursuit of🌳 Max Verstappen is mainly “mischief” to annoy Red Bull, says Martin Brundle.

The Mercedes boss proudly announced that Kimi Antonelli would replac🐓e Lewis Hamilton, and sit alongside George Russell in their 2025 line-up.

B൩ut he also spoke abou🧸t his ongoing desire to tempt Red Bull’s Verstappen into a Mercedes for 2026.

The new F1 regulations which will begin in 2026 could enable Mercede🥃s to start a fresh era of dominance if they emerge with the strongest engine, making them attractive to every drivಌer on the grid including Verstappen.

But Sky Sports’ Brundle said: “With Toto there is as much mischief to destabilise Red Bull as there is trying to stabi🀅lise Mercedes.

“When he said that, he had George one side of him, and Antonelli th🦋e other side!

“They manage both of 🔯those d🎶rivers’ career, as well.

“Geo𓆏rge is the lead dri𓂃ver of the great Mercedes team going into a year where it looks like the car might be strong.

“It’s all for the taking. I ꦦdon’t think he needs to🀅 look in his rear view mirror at other drivers.”

Brundle’s view is in contrast to ♕Nico Rosberg’s, who expects a battle between next season’s Mercedes drivers to keep their𒆙 spots.

“It really becomes a 𝔉straight sho⛎otout between Antonelli and George,” Rosberg predicted.

“It won’t be a comfortable position for George🐽. Because you have a young superstar, 18 yearsꦜ old. George is expected to beat Antonelli so he can almost only lose next year.

“It’s🦄 uncomfortable, he has to beat Antonelli to be kept on alongside Verstappen.”