FLASH NEWS
Wolf, "text" to Verstappen: You have a terrible car...
2026-03-17 16:07:44 / SPORT
Toto Wolff, Mercedes CEO, seems to be missing no opportunity to highlight his team's return to the top. After changes to the Formula 1 technical regulations, Mercedes has regained the form and dominance it had lost since 2022.
At the same time, Wolff also seems to have sent a clear message to Max Verstappen, who he had lured several times over the past two years to join Mercedes. The Dutch driver, however, has consistently rejected these offers. Asked about the four-time world champion's poor start to the season and his complaints about the new F1 cars, Wolff gave a direct answer. "I think Verstappen is experiencing a terrible spectacle. If you look at the footage from the camera on his car during qualifying, it is clear that it is a terrible car to drive and you can feel it," said the Austrian, who did not hide his smile. However, according to him, the situation is not the same for other teams.
"From a spectacle point of view, what we saw in China between Ferrari and Mercedes was a good race, with a lot of overtaking. We have all been part of Formula 1 in periods when there was no overtaking at all, and sometimes we get very nostalgic for the past," said Wolff, referring to Verstappen's statements, who had said that "who likes this Formula 1, doesn't really like racing."
Wolff, who is currently at the peak of his form with Mercedes dominating qualifying sessions and the Sprint, tries to highlight the positive sides of the new situation.
"I think the spectacle is good. We also saw very interesting races in the middle of the standings. That's something positive. But from the drivers' point of view, when it comes to a qualifying lap at maximum speed, the situation changes," admitted the Austrian.
"To take your foot off the gas and let the car slide by inertia during a qualifying lap is something difficult for a driver like Verstappen, who is always attacking. But I would say that this is more of a specific problem of the car, which in a way magnifies the situation. If you watch the race on TV, even Max would say that the battle at the top was interesting," Wolff added, referring to Red Bull's problems.
WHY DIDN'T HE GO TO MERCEDES? – Results and contractual clauses did not allow such a move in 2025, a season in which Verstappen fought for the title and missed out on a fifth championship by just two points. His contract with Red Bull expires in 2028. However, this season the performance clauses could be activated, as it is possible that by mid-season he will not be among the top three drivers in the championship standings.
IS THE OFFER STILL ON? – Most likely not. With George Russell as team leader and young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli seen as a rising star, Wolff seems to consider Mercedes' ideal lineup already complete. Only a major championship upset, for example if Ferrari were to snatch the title from them with Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton, could change this situation. Otherwise, Mercedes' doors may already be closed to a change in the 2027 lineup. Meanwhile, Verstappen himself has hinted that the problem is not only related to results. "Even if I were to win, I would say the same thing about these cars," declared the Dutch driver.
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