In a strategic move, Toto Wolff targets Max Verstappen for Mercedes, sparking debate on motives beyond racing competition.
Max Verstappen has now become Mercedes F1’s top priority, as stated by Toto Wolff this week. However, according to Jacques Villeneuve, the Austrian team principal’s interest is not rooted in sport. The 1997 World Champion believes Wolff merely aims to irritate Red Bull by snatching their driver.
“I can’t imagine Toto Wolff actually wanting Max,” Villeneuve remarked. “The only reason he might consider it is to annoy Red Bull. I don’t see him at Mercedes because they lost the championship to Red Bull and Max. It definitely wouldn’t be because he genuinely wants Max. It would more likely be to upset Red Bull.”
Villeneuve suggests that Red Bull is under no obligation to retain Verstappen: “There are a lot of personal vendettas going on right now, both inside and outside of Red Bull. It’s a real mess. Would the team be as good without Horner? That’s a tough question.”
“Would the team win without Verstappen? Probably. Max wins because he has an extraordinary car, and Red Bull wins because they have an extraordinary driver. But he’s not the only extraordinary driver out there. Put Alonso in that car, and he would win too.”
Nevertheless, he is convinced that the Dutch driver could contend for the title with other teams: “I’m sure Max believes he can win with Mercedes and Ferrari, that he can make a difference. He has to believe that. And he might be capable of making a difference.”
“But that’s something we won’t know until he makes the move. For now, he’s beating Perez, and that makes him look extraordinary. But we don’t know how good Perez is. We just know he’s not as good as Verstappen.”
Wolff Verstappen Mercedes Sport. Wolff Verstappen Mercedes Sport
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