No one is going to catch Max: Wolff says F1 title is already Verstappens to lose
- Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff admits that Max Verstappen’s dominance in F1 makes him the likely world champion. Wolff’s statement suggests that Verstappen’s lead in the championship is formidable, positioning him as the frontrunner for the title.
Max Verstappen is already the world champion-elect, according to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who also declared that the Red Bull driver is unstoppable this season following his third convincing victory in four races.
With a string of unwaveringly precise circuits that guaranteed he was unopposed at the front, Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix from pole position, finishing more than 12 seconds ahead of his Red Bull teammate, Sergio Pérez. The world champion was 20 seconds ahead of third-place Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz. Pérez trails Verstappen by 13 points in the world championship.
With 20 races remaining, Verstappen had a good chance of winning the championship, according to Wolff, who also said his team was only in a fight for second place. Mercedes, who are going through their third challenging season since new rules went into effect in 2022, could only manage seventh and ninth place for George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, respectively.
Max won’t be caught this year, according to Wolff. “The automobile and his driving are simply amazing. You can observe how he handles the tires, and this season is really the greatest so far. That’s the only thing that’s true, but maybe we can catch up to the Ferraris and McLarens and compete for P2. We had a P2 last year, and this is what it is this year and what it was last year.
For Mercedes, even finishing in second place this season seemed like a lofty goal, and Wolff acknowledged that it was not a commendable place for the team that had won eight straight constructors’ titles in 2014.
“From a purely athletic perspective, P1 is what counts—not P2, P3, or P4, but this is the situation we find ourselves in right now. We’re attempting to make the most of this new reality by outperforming our rivals while also accepting that there are times when someone is simply doing a better job and establishing the standard that we will eventually need to reestablish for ourselves.
According to Wolff, Mercedes is aiming to catch up to Red Bull by the time of the next major rule change in 2026. He stated, “I don’t want too much suffering in the next 18 months. There is a big reset in 2026 that certainly provides the most realistic opportunity for any other team to beat Red Bull, but there are one and a quarter seasons until then.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner downplayed Verstappen’s edge. He declared, “It’s far too early to write off the year.” “I’ve learned over the years not to pay too much attention to what Toto says, and there are still 20 races left.”
Horner did acknowledge Verstappen’s exceptional position and his ability to raise the stakes when necessary.
“The car is in a great window, and he’s lean and fit.” The extra space he has in the automobile is audible. Not only does he want to know who is ahead of him, but also who is behind him and how many laps they are doing. His capacity is just remarkable. His form from the previous year has continued to hold true.
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