Mercedes cautiously: "See Lewis and Max still fighting for the title this year"

Toto Wolff thinks it's too early for Mercedes to think about the world title. According to the team boss of Mercedes Max Verstappen could have been much closer to Lewis Hamilton in the World Championship and for that reason the Austrian top man demands supreme concentration in his team.

"I still see Lewis and Max fighting for the title this year", Wolff is quoted by, among others, the NOS. However, they don't mind that at Mercedes. "Lewis doesn't think that's a problem, he likes to be challenged and prefers to win if he has to fight for it. And not even Valtteri Bottas."

The difference in the world championship between Verstappen and Hamilton is currently 30 points. That big difference is caused by the nine-time GP winner dropping out on the Red Bull Ring during the first Grand Prix of the season. Had that not happened, he would have had a very good chance of a podium place (and maybe even the victory) and the difference with Hamilton would have been minimal.

That's what Wolff agrees with. "Then the gap with Lewis would have been zero. We're not done with Max yet. And actually I'm happy about that because everyone is waiting for battles between top riders and surprises. Nobody wants boring races," said 48-year-old Wolff.