Max Verstappen’s triumph at the Italian Grand Prix has shattered the long-standing record for most consecutive Formula 1 victories. Alongside that, his team, Red Bull Racing, also established a new benchmark by racking up 15 team wins on the trot. While the Dutch sensation acknowledges the milestone, it wasn’t really what he had his eyes set on.
Toto Wolff, the head honcho of Mercedes, doesn’t seem too impressed with this consecutive wins record either, spotlighting Verstappen’s nonchalance about the whole affair.
When asked why Mercedes had never clinched such a streak, Wolff told Sky Sports F1: “The dynamics were different for us. We’ve always had internal competition between our two drivers.”
“As for whether Max really gives a hoot about these records or not, I can’t say. But personally, such stats are essentially just internet trivia. I mean, who even goes on Wikipedia to read about that stuff?”
Meanwhile, over at the Red Bull camp, the team threw a bash to commemorate Verstappen’s tenth straight win, clearly delighting in their pole position after the race.
Photo credit: Simon Galloway / F1 Flow Images
Reflecting on Mercedes’ performance at the Italian Grand Prix, where George Russell and Lewis Hamilton managed to claw their way back to fifth and sixth positions despite incurring five-second penalties, Wolff remained pragmatic.
“Don’t pop the champagne just because we got a fifth and sixth place finish. We extracted the best out of a subpar situation,” Wolff added.
“As for the penalties, I think they were justifiable, and we’ll dig into the why’s and how’s to ensure we don’t trip over the same stone in future races.”
Prior to tearing it up—or rather, not tearing it up—at Monza, Wolff admitted that the track underscored some aerodynamic inefficiencies in the W14. This echoed Mercedes’ struggles at similar tracks like Belgium and Azerbaijan, where the Silver Arrows were noticeably slower in the speed traps by about 10 km/h compared to their competitors.
However, Wolff remains upbeat about the future, especially as the F1 circus moves to Singapore, a track whose attributes should play more to Mercedes’ strengths.
“If you look at our performance in Spa and Baku, I think we’ve made strides when it comes to low-downforce tracks. So, I’m expecting us to put on a stronger showing in Singapore. That’s where we need to seize the day,” Wolff concluded.
Read More: Verstappen Outmaneuvers Sainz to Secure Victory in F1 Italian GP
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Toto Wolff on Verstappen’s F1 record
What record did Max Verstappen break at the Italian Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen broke the all-time record for most consecutive Formula 1 victories with his win at the Italian Grand Prix.
How did Toto Wolff react to Verstappen’s record-breaking streak?
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes boss, downplayed the importance of the consecutive wins record. He referred to it as “a stat for the Wiki nerds” and highlighted that such numbers aren’t crucial to him.
What records did Red Bull Racing set?
Alongside Verstappen’s individual record, Red Bull Racing also set a new record for the most team wins in a row, with 15 consecutive victories.
How did Mercedes perform at the Italian Grand Prix?
Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton managed fifth and sixth place finishes, respectively. Both drivers had incurred five-second penalties but were able to negate their impact.
What did Wolff say about Mercedes’ future prospects?
Wolff mentioned that Mercedes is getting better at low-downforce tracks, and he is optimistic about the team’s performance in the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, where the track layout should favor them.
What aerodynamic issues does the Mercedes W14 have?
Before the Italian Grand Prix, Wolff pointed out that the W14 has some weaknesses in aerodynamic efficiency, particularly at tracks with similar characteristics to Belgium and Azerbaijan. This was evident as both Mercedes drivers were about 10 km/h slower in the speed traps compared to their competitors.
Is Max Verstappen focused on breaking records?
While Verstappen acknowledged the milestone of breaking the all-time consecutive wins record, he had not been specifically aiming for it. He seems indifferent to such statistical achievements, according to Wolff.
What did Wolff say about the penalties incurred by Mercedes drivers at the Italian GP?
Wolff felt that the five-second penalties given to George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were justifiable. He added that the team would examine how to prevent similar situations in the future.
More about Toto Wolff on Verstappen’s F1 record
- Verstappen Shatters F1 Records at Italian Grand Prix
- Inside the Mind of Toto Wolff: An Exclusive Interview
- Red Bull Racing’s 15-Consecutive Wins: A Deep Dive
- Mercedes’ Struggles at Low-Downforce Tracks: Analysis
- Upcoming Singapore Grand Prix: What to Expect
- How Penalties Are Decided in Formula 1: The Official Rulebook
- Wikipedia’s List of F1 Records: From Wins to Fastest Laps
- F1 Speed Traps: How Do Teams Measure Up?
8 comments
Is it just me or does Wolff sound a bit salty? Records or no records, F1 is about the thrill of the race, and Max is thrilling to watch.
Anyone else pumped for Singapore GP? With Mercedes saying they’ve got an edge, should be interesting to see how it unfolds.
Aerodynamic issues? Seriously, Mercedes needs to step up their game. Red Bull’s engineering team is schooling them, for real.
Red Bull’s on fire this season. If Verstappen doesn’t care about records, he’s definitely got his eyes on the championship. Watch out, Mercedes!
I dont get the penalty thing. If its justifiable, why are they looking to prevent it? Confusing stuff.
Imagine a movie about this F1 season. The drama, the rivalries. Somebody call Hollywood, man!
Wolff’s comment about wiki nerds cracked me up. Guess I’m one of em cause I totally read those stats!
Wow, Max is just killin it, isn’t he? Wolff can downplay all he wants but the record books don’t lie, lol.