Wolff sympathizes with Verstappen amid Red Bull's China 'horror show'
Photo: Race Pictures
11:29, 15 Mar
Updated: 11:32, 15 Mar
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Toto Wolff is not completely on the same page as Max Verstappen about the current situation of racing in Formula 1.
"Max is really in a horror show."- Toto Wolff
After the Chinese Grand Prix, Verstappen talked about length about the "fundamentally flawed" current generation of F1 cars that are a threat for the competition. For the Dutchman, what's going on at the moment is simply not racing.
Asked about the four-time world champion's verdict, the Austrian CEO and team boss told GPblog among other media: "I mean, Max is really in a horror show. When you look at his onboard in qualifying yesterday, this [car] is just horrendous to drive.
"You can see that, but it's not the same with many other teams. I think from an entertainment perspective, I believe that what we've seen today between Ferrari and Mercedes was good racing. Many overtakes.
"We were all part of Formula 1 where there was no overtaking, literally. Sometimes we're too nostalgic about the good old years. But I think the product is good in itself. We saw quite some racing in the midfield also."
Max Verstappen - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Wolff also understands Verstappen's criticism in terms of qualifying
He continued: "That's the positive. Now from a driver's standpoint when it comes to the balls out qualifying lap, that is different.
"Clearly lifting costs in the qualifying I'm sure for someone like Max, who is a full attack guy, it's difficult to cope and digest, but it's more I would say a car specific issue that kind of magnifies the problem that it is. Because if you sit in front of a TV, or in front of a screen, even Max would say that was interesting racing in the front."
"Because if you sit in front of a TV, or in front of a screen, even Max would say that was interesting racing in the front."- Toto Wolff
The Mercedes team boss concluded: "Qualifying flat out would be nice, but when you look at the fans and the excitement that is there, 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.
"So yes, we can always look at how we're improving it, but at the moment, all the indicators say and all the data say people love it. And that's why I spoke with Stefano [Domenicali], he says that too. So it is driving the car that for some is not most pleasant."
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