Italian taxi unions respond sharply to Toto Wolff’s F1 remarks, accusing the Mercedes boss of fuelling tired and unfair driving clichés.
Italian taxi drivers have responded with humour to comments made by Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes F1.
Rome Taxis Mock Wolff
Asked about Max Verstappen’s manoeuvre on George Russell in Barcelona – which Lando Norris said reminded him of Mario Kart – Wolff remarked on Sunday evening: “It was like some taxi drivers in Rome or Naples, who go mad in traffic jams.”
Proving that no joke goes unnoticed in Formula One, the comment drew sharp criticism, particularly from the taxi drivers mentioned.
“We’re better than Formula One drivers, who wouldn’t survive an hour in Rome’s traffic,” said Loreno Bittarelli, president of Cooperativa Radiotaxi 3570, the Roman taxi association.
He continued: “We drive through roadworks, motorbikes, e-scooters, tourist coaches. Rome is a jungle, far worse than a Formula One circuit. Perhaps Wolff would do better to focus on the performance of his own team.”
Rome Drivers Fire Back
Some may detect a note of irony, but Bittarelli insists Wolff should be wary of “tired stereotypes”.
“We’re the last people who want accidents – we’d lose a day’s work.”
The view from Rome’s taxi union was echoed by Filt-Cgil, the Italian transport workers’ federation.
“We drive as slowly as Mercedes F1 here in Rome,” joked its leader, Nicola di Giacobbe.
“We’re the most skilled drivers of all. But the traffic in this city is dreadful. It now takes 30 minutes to travel two kilometres.”
His fellow driver, Alessandro, dismissed Wolff’s comment as a “tired cliché”.
“I’d like to see Formula One drivers weave through roadworks and dodge scooters like we do. I think we’d have a laugh with penalty points!”
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