In Suzuka, Japan, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff made a bold statement after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen dominated the Japanese Grand Prix, declaring that no Formula One driver will be able to compete with the triple world champion this year. Verstappen finished the race at Suzuka nearly 13 seconds ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez and 20 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
Wolff praised Verstappen’s driving and the outstanding performance of the Red Bull car, admitting that this season is essentially a battle for second place. He expressed hope that Mercedes could catch up to McLaren and Ferrari and fight for P2 in the championship standings.
Despite narrowly edging out Ferrari for second place in the constructor championship last season with 409 points, Mercedes was far behind Red Bull’s impressive 806 point haul.
The Mercedes team, led by seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, has faced challenges this year and currently sits fourth in the constructor standings, trailing Ferrari and McLaren. Hamilton finished ninth at Suzuka, with teammate George Russell in seventh, after a strategy involving tyre changes backfired.
Wolff noted that while the team has made progress in understanding the car better, the disappointing race results do not bring much satisfaction. Hamilton mentioned that he felt the car performed exceptionally well during practice sessions.
Despite the improvements, Wolff acknowledged the reality that the title race is essentially over already, stating that being part of the chasing group is not fulfilling from a sporting perspective. He emphasized that ultimately, it is first place that matters in racing.
Responding to Wolff’s comments, Red Bull boss Christian Horner commended Verstappen’s strong showing but cautioned against writing off the entire year too early. Horner highlighted that there are still 20 races remaining in the season and expressed skepticism towards Wolff’s pessimistic outlook.
“It’s very early to write off your year, there are still 20 races to go. I’ve learnt not to listen too much to what Toto has said over the years,” Horner remarked, suggesting that other teams should not give up hope just yet.
Overall, the dynamic competition in the Formula One season continues to unfold, with Verstappen and Red Bull asserting their dominance while Mercedes grapples with challenges in their pursuit of success.
(Reporting by John Geddie; Editing by Ken Ferris)
