Wolff on Verstappen: 'You can't make that many mistakes in a fight with Hamilton'
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Max Verstappen leads the world championship after his victory in Monaco. According to Toto Wolff the young Dutchman has a good chance of winning the world title, although Verstappen still makes enough mistakes.
Mercedes as underdog
There is finally a battle for the world title again in 2021. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton battle it out every race, and after Hamilton was able to lead the standings for the first four races, that lead is now in Verstappen's hands. Wolff sees Verstappen's talent but also points out his weaknesses.
''He can definitely become world champion, but he still makes small mistakes because he is young. However, his speed and car control are great. You can't keep making so many mistakes because Lewis is at the top of his game. It's also a lot easier to be the hunter. That's why this situation suits us so well,'' Wolff told Frankfurter Allgemeine.
Verstappen's mistakes
Indeed, Wolff believes his team are the underdogs. ''Red Bull cannot deny that they are the favorite. Max should have won in Bahrain, were it not for Lewis' impressive driving. If Verstappen had waited a lap to overtake, he would have crossed the line first. In Imola Max also made a mistake in qualifying, otherwise, he would have been at the front,'' Wolff lists the chances.
''In Portugal, Max went off track in qualifying and made a mistake in the race when Hamilton was breathing down his neck. Red Bull should have just been on pole everywhere because they have the fastest package,'' said the Mercedes team boss.