06 September 2023 , 16:13
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A trio of Sky Sports F1 pundits have criticised Toto Wolff after the Mercedes chief dismissed Max Verstappen's latest Formula 1 record as being just a fact "for Wikipedia".
The Red Bull racer continued his lethal form with yet another victory at Sunday's Italian Grand Prix. It was his 10th consecutive race win, setting a new F1 record in this most dominant of seasons for the Dutchman.
While Red Bull have been winning with ease, Wolff's Mercedes team has managed just one victory in the last two seasons and has been a long way off a title challenge. That is perhaps why the Austrian was dismissive of Verstappen's achievement when asked about it after the Monza race.
"I don't know if he cares about the records. It is not something that would be important for me," he said. "Those numbers, it is for Wikipedia and nobody reads that anyway."
His words prompted a disapproving response from Damon Hill. "It sounded a bit churlish and not very gracious," the 1996 drivers' world champion said. And he is not the only Sky Sports F1 pundit left unimpressed by Wolff's words.
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Martin Brundle took aim at both the Mercedes chief and driver Lewis Hamilton, after he too said he was "no more impressed" with Verstappen than he has been with other rivals over the years. "For Max Verstappen to win 10 consecutive races, along with Red Bull taking all 14 races so far this season, it's truly something to behold," wrote Brundle.
"What an achievement to faultlessly keep up that level of performance and reliability on many different track layouts and in varying weather conditions, up against mighty opposition. Congratulations to each and every one of them. If a tennis player or football or rugby team for example was so utterly complete and dominant, they would rightly be globally lauded at the highest level.
"As should this pairing be. Sport can and should be tribal, but you must surely also appreciate a level of excellence in others. So I was a little surprised and disappointed that Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff played down this achievement over the weekend, because they rightly received their due reverence and appreciation during their years of total domination from 2014 to 2020."
And even Nico Rosberg, who won the 2016 drivers' title with Mercedes when Wolff was his boss, felt the Austrian had been "ungracious". He said: "I think Toto got in a moment there where he was not too happy about his own race team's performance on the weekend. Where they finished, fifth and sixth, miles behind Ferrari and Red Bull, is not really the goal.
"So I think Toto was just a bit down there and that made his answer a bit darker and not quite as gracious. Not quite as gracious as perhaps he would normally be because I think the right answer would have been, 'Hats off and respect to Red Bull for their achievements'."