The competition between Mercedes and Red Bull in Formula 1 continues to reach new heights, refusing to lose momentum.
Max Verstappen has recently showcased his supremacy in the sport by clinching his tenth consecutive victory at the Italian Grand Prix. This remarkable feat not only placed the Red Bull driver at the pinnacle of the record books but also garnered wide acclaim from the world of sports.
Surprisingly, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, who heads Red Bull’s fiercest rivals on the track, responded to this remarkable achievement with an unusual indifference. Wolff dismissed the accomplishment as something inconsequential, likening it to mere Wikipedia material, insinuating that nobody pays attention to that website anyways.
Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko, never one to hold back, swiftly rebuked Wolff’s dismissive remarks, emphasizing that Mercedes was not a worthy adversary. However, during the FIA Press Conferences ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, it was Verstappen’s turn to respond.
And respond he did, with an unwavering directness.
“I’m not disappointed in that, but I mean, they had a pretty s*** race so probably he was still pissed off with their performance,” Verstappen candidly remarked when asked about Wolff’s comments.
At the recent Monza race, George Russell secured a commendable fifth-place finish, with Lewis Hamilton following in sixth. Yet, Verstappen was only getting started.
“He almost sounds like he’s an employee of our team sometimes, you know? But no, luckily [he’s] not.”
Verstappen went on to highlight how Mercedes, at one point, enjoyed an era of supreme dominance in Formula 1. According to the Dutch driver, this period served as a catalyst for Red Bull to intensify their efforts in narrowing the gap. Eventually, their relentless pursuit paid off, as Verstappen triumphed over Hamilton in a climactic last lap of the 2021 season, securing his maiden Drivers’ Championship.
Nevertheless, Verstappen recognizes that dwelling on past achievements defeats the purpose.
“I think it’s just important that you focus on your own team,” Verstappen asserted. “That’s what we do as well. That’s what we did in the past when we were trailing them and they were dominating, and I think you should be able to appreciate when a team is performing exceptionally well. In the past, it served as an inspiration for us.”
Verstappen underlined the influence Mercedes’ dominance had on Red Bull’s unwavering determination to improve, striving to reach their level. Now, having achieved that goal, the Red Bull driver and his team are relishing their moment in the sun, savoring the hard-earned success.
As we await Wolff’s response, the rivalry between Mercedes and Red Bull remains a captivating spectacle that Formula 1 fans cannot afford to ignore.
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