Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff has described Max Verstappen’s actions as “incomprehensible” after having appeared to drive into George Russell late on in the Spanish Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver came under fierce pressure from both Russell and Charles Leclerc upon a race restart into Lap 64 after a late Safety Car period at Barcelona.
After slight contact with Leclerc’s Ferrari into Turn 1, the Verstappen drove across the emergency run-off road on the exit of Turn 2, gaining a supposed advantage.
When advised by Red Bull to give place fourth place to Russell on the next lap, Verstappen seemed to slow on the exit of Turn 4 to let Russell overtake him.
But as Russell negotiated Turn 5, Verstappen appeared to speed up, and the Red Bull made contact with the side of the Mercedes.
Verstappen was subsequently handed a 10 second time penalty, dropping him to 10th overall. This was followed by three penalty points, taking him to just one away from a race suspension.
After the race, Wolff intimated incredulity towards the notion of Verstappen acting with intent, but questioned the motives behind the clash.
“I just heard, actually, that Max had the call to let him pass. I didn’t know,” the Austrian told media including Motorsport Week. “We were under the impression in the race that he had a problem with the car and that’s why he was so slow getting out of [Turn] 4.
“I mean, if it was road rage – which I can’t imagine because it was too obvious – then it’s not good. But the thing is, I don’t know what he aimed for.
“Did he want to let George pass and immediately repass, put George the car ahead? And then, like the old DRS games, letting him pass the right way?
“Or, for me, it’s just incomprehensible. But, again, I don’t know exactly what the motivations were and I don’t want to jump on it and say this was road rage, etc.
“Let’s see what his arguments are. It wasn’t nice.”
‘I don’t know where it comes from’: Wolff questions Verstappen mentality
Verstappen has previously been at the centre of on-track controversy, which has led to many of his critics asking questions of his mentality in the midst of battle.
When this was put to him, Wolff appeared to draw on a conclusion made by others about how some leading sportsmen and women seem to possess a victim’s mentality.
“There’s a pattern that I’ve read,” he said. “The great ones, whether it’s in motor racing or in other sports, you just need to have the world against you and then perform at the highest possible level.
“That’s why sometimes these greats don’t recognise that the world is not against you. It’s just you who have made a mistake or you’ve screwed up, etc.
“We haven’t seen any of these moments with Max for many years now. Obviously, I know the year 2021, that happened. I don’t know where it comes from.”
READ MORE – Max Verstappen harbours no regret over George Russell clash in F1 Spanish GP
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