Wolff understands Red Bull: "I can put myself in their shoes"

Toto Wolff was relieved to see Lewis Hamilton take pole position in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Saturday. At the same time, the Mercedes team boss could well imagine how big the disappointment of Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing was after the Dutchman's crash, he told Auto, Motor und Sport.

Where Verstappen set an excellent time in Q3, Lewis Hamilton managed to beat it. The leader in the world championship had to give everything in his last lap to get pole position. Verstappen took so much risk that he missed the wall twice, but just before the finish it went wrong and he drove hard into the wall.

The German team was cheering after gaining the first starting position, but Wolff was also thinking about Verstappen. "Red Bull has put a dominant package on the wheels here. I can put myself in their shoes," the team boss stated in the interview. "Max was doing a mega lap. He could have been half a second faster than Lewis."

As Valtteri Bottas set the second fastest time just before time, Verstappen must try to get closer to Hamilton in Saudi Arabia from third position. Should Hamilton win the race and Verstappen finish second, both drivers are almost equal in the world championship. Next week the final race in Abu Dhabi is scheduled.