Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has silenced suggestions that he hates reigning World Champion Max Verstappen, with the Austrian insisting that he actually “really” likes the Dutchman.
With Verstappen having been a ferocious rival for seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton in 2021, many believed that Wolff hated the Red Bull driver, especially following the controversial season finale.
This appears to not be the case, though, with Wolff actually being a bit of a fan of the 25-year-old.
Wolff revealed how a woman applied for a job he was offering but was convinced she wouldn’t get the position due to her being Dutch, with the Austrian sharing that it was because she was certain the Mercedes boss “hated” the two-time World Champion.
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“I asked why, and she thought I hated Max Verstappen. But I really like Max,” Wolff told Wolff told De Telegraaf.
Wolff went on to explain how drivers like Hamilton and Verstappen have a “raw edge” which separates them from the rest, with Verstappen in particular having “matured so much” in recent years.
“Max, in combination with his car, is the benchmark. He has matured so much and doesn’t make mistakes anymore,” Wolff added.
“And he’s only 25 years old, right? You wouldn’t think someone of that age is so mature, also on his outlook on life. It’s really impressive. Whether it’s Max, Lewis, Michael Schumacher or Ayrton Senna, they’re all different but they all have a raw edge.
“I like those kinds of people, difficult people. That often means they have more ambition and more dedication. This not only applies to drivers, but also to the top people within a team.”
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Verstappen is certainly going from strength to strength, with him being the favourite to win the title once again.
Should he be victorious this season, then the Red Bull driver would match the legendary Ayrton Senna as a three-time World Champion, whilst he’s also closing in on the Brazilian’s 41 career wins.
Verstappen’s win last Sunday in Miami was the 38th of his career already, meaning he could match Senna at the Spanish Grand Prix to move to joint-fifth on the all-time list for most wins.