Wolff praises Verstappen: 'Absolutely worthy four-time F1 champion'

For a long time, Toto Wolff hoped sign Max Verstappen as Lewis Hamilton's replacement for the 2025 season. Why he wanted to pinch the Dutchman from Red Bull Racing is fairly obvious: Verstappen is capable of winning Grands Prix and even becoming world champion with a non-superior car.

On the day Mercedes celebrated an extremely impressive one-two with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, it was Verstappen who finally secured his fourth world title in a row. Facing GPblog, Wolff was particularly complimentary about the Dutchman. "He's a deserving champion," said the Austrian team boss.

"It was clear that he was one of the great ones before that year already. Now four times world champion, he dominated in the first half of the year. Domination of the driver, domination of the car. Second half of the season, domination of the driver. Absolutely worthy four times Formula One World Champion," Wolff concluded.

So, while Verstappen celebrated his title, Mercedes celebrated a one-two. Winning in Las Vegas, in particular, did Wolff a special favour. "That fantastic event, so big and spectacular, important for the American market and winning here finishing with a 1-2 means that we're going to be in the minds of the fans and all of the American stakeholders. And it's a good prime time to be in the United States."