Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff commented on the controversial incident involving Max Verstappen and George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, suggesting that elite sportspeople sometimes perceive the world is against them.
During Sunday`s race, Verstappen and Russell had two on-track skirmishes after a late Safety Car period. The second instance at Turn 5, while competing for fourth place, was described by Mercedes driver Russell as feeling “deliberate.”
The day after the race, Verstappen admitted his manoeuvre “shouldn`t have happened,” and Red Bull team boss Christian Horner confirmed the driver had apologised to the team.
Before Verstappen publicly accepted responsibility, Wolff was asked about the Red Bull driver`s temperament, referencing the intense 2021 season-long rivalry between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
Wolff stated, “There`s a pattern that I`ve recognised with the great ones, whether it`s in motor racing or in other sports.”
He elaborated, “You just need to have the world against you, and then you perform at the highest possible level. That`s why, sometimes, these greats don`t recognise that, actually, the world is not against you, it`s just you who has made a mistake, or you`ve screwed up.”
Wolff noted the recent incident was unusual, adding, “We haven`t seen any of these moments with Max for many years now. I know 2021, that happened, but I don`t know where it comes from.”
Wolff: Limited Positives from Recent Races
In Spain, Russell finished fourth, behind McLaren`s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, and Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc. This was his best result of the recent European triple-header, having finished seventh in Imola and eleventh in Monaco.
His teammate, Kimi Antonelli, did not score points over the three races, experiencing two engine failures and a difficult Monaco weekend.
“It`s difficult to see lots of positives, apart from the trajectory, that seemed to be a little bit better in tyre management,” Wolff commented on the team`s performance during the triple-header.
He added that the team needs to investigate Antonelli`s engine issue in Spain, as engine reliability is normally a strength for Mercedes. Wolff also stressed the importance of understanding tyre behaviour, calling it a crucial factor for the following season.
Mercedes currently sits third in the Constructors` Championship, trailing Ferrari and a significant 203 points behind the leading team, McLaren.
Wolff suggested that Mercedes` struggles in hot conditions, where tyre degradation is high, might be an inherent characteristic, part of the car`s “DNA” and “dialled into the design.”
“Even though we are a large organisation with many scientists and engineers, sometimes you don`t know why a car is doing something,” he admitted.
He speculated that even teams like McLaren might not fully understand the source of their speed, attributing it to “marginal gains and the detail and just good engineering.”
Wolff noted that historically, Mercedes cars have struggled more with rear tyre overheating compared to competitors, performing strongly in colder conditions where this isn`t an issue.
He recalled the Las Vegas race from the previous year as an example, where Mercedes drivers found exceptional grip immediately, contrasting with other drivers who reported very little grip and sliding. He concluded that this sensitivity to conditions is “intrinsic” to the car`s design.
Marcus Prine