Wolff alerted by Verstappen and Red Bull: 'Then it will be a full on fight'
Photo: Race Pictures
Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
Mercedes' Toto Wolff was very complimentary of Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing after the Dutchman won his second race in a row.
After the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Verstappen also won the Singapore Grand Prix comfortably, claiming his first victory at the circuit.
Speaking to GPblog, among others, Wolff could only praise his rivals. "Really, you have to take your hat off for what Red Bull has done this season, how they have developed the car and how it's all come together as a package," the Austrian began.
He continued: "Then you put Max Verstappen in the car, and when he feels that this thing is driving like he wants it to drive, then, you know, these are the results. It's been by far the quickest guy today. It's been the quickest guy in Kuala Lumpur.
"And let's see if, you know, when our upgrade hopefully starts to work and land in a place where we think it should be, whether we can be competitive against him."
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Photo: Race Pictures
As a result, Wolff is keeping an eye on Verstappen and Red Bull in the context of the 2027 title battle. "One thing is for sure. You know, next year, it's full on the fight between the teams, and Red Bull is part of that."
Wolff on the Red Bull Ford power unit
The Mercedes team boss was also asked about their rival's engine. He said: "I haven't seen the data, obviously yet from Singapore, but you can't see that it's lagging [behind]. They have they have done it very well. The ICE seems to be very competitive.
"Obviously, you can see that with the ADUO, but also in terms of energy recovery and energy deployment there, that... You know, it's pretty good," he concluded.
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With this result, Verstappen is now fourth in the drivers' standings, sitting only 17 points behind George Russell.
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