Toto Wolff has dismissed criticism of the new Formula One regulations from Max Verstappen as a result of the “horror show” Red Bull car the four-time world champion is having to drive.
Verstappen has not been alone in his outspoken criticism of the new rules, and after he was forced to retire from the Chinese GP on Sunday he delivered his most damning condemnation yet of the emphasis on electrical energy deployment and recovery.
“It’s terrible,” he said. “If someone likes this, then you really don’t know what racing is like. Not fun at all. Playing Mario Kart. This is not racing and I would say the same if I would be winning races because I care about the racing product.”
Wolff’s Mercedes team have one‑two victories in the first two grands prix of the season, with the 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli securing his first F1 win in China. Their car is comfortably the best of the field, with a fearsome engine and excellent balance, and Wolff attributed much of Verstappen’s dissatisfaction to the poorly performing Red Bull. At best, it has been fourth-fastest in the opening two rounds and, at Verstappen’s own admission, a handful to drive. “Max is really, I think, in a horror show,” Wolff said. “When you look at the onboard he has in qualifying, this is just horrendous to drive.”
F1 was due to consider adjustments to the rules in order to address some driver complaints after China, but the race proved to be successful. Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, enjoyed a race-long contest and there was overtaking and wheel-to-wheel competition throughout the field that went down enormously well with the crowd.
Hamilton said it was “the best racing I’ve ever experienced in Formula One”. It is believed the meeting will still take place, but decisions on whether the rules will be adjusted will now not take place until after the Japanese Grand Prix in two weeks’ time. The race at Suzuka precedes a five-week gap until the next round in Miami after the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi meetings.
Wolff was adamant that, from a neutral standpoint, the show in China was a success. “From an entertainment perspective, I believe what we’ve seen between Ferrari and Mercedes was good racing, many overtakes. We were all part of Formula One when there was no overtaking. Sometimes we’re too nostalgic about the good old years, but the product is good in itself. We saw quite some racing in the midfield also and that is the positive.”
Wolff also stressed that while the opinions of drivers were important, the metric the sport and its chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, were most interested in was the reaction of spectators. “You look at the fans and the excitement that is there live, the cheering when there are overtakes, and also on social media, the younger fans, the vast majority through all the demographics like the sport at the moment,” he said.
“We can always look at how we’re improving it but all the indicators say, and all the data say, that people love it. That’s why I spoke with Stefano, he says that too.”
