Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has delivered a blunt assessment of Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 title hopes, declaring: “That ship has sailed”.
The Dutchman had endured a stellar period of form since F1 returned from its summer break, taking three wins in that time to bring him back into title contention.
And despite maintaining his 100 per cent podium record at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix with a pits-to-podium drive, he dropped more points to race-winner and title-leader Lando Norris.
Verstappen is now 49 points behind Norris with just three races to go, with it now likely he will most certainly relinquish his crown after four straight championship triumphs.
After the race at Interlagos, Wolff made it clear that he now sees the title once again as just between the McLaren pair of Norris and Oscar Piastri, who is 24 points behind.
“That ship had sailed,” Wolff told media including Motorsport Week.
“I think just let them race, make no contact, but the gap that Lando has now is very, very solid. But he can’t afford a DNF either, because then it swings in the other direction.
“Obviously, from a spectator standpoint you would want to see that going into the last race, equal points or similar points, but [Norris] was impressive in the last few races, how he held the nerves and how he scored the points.”
Wolff is perfectly aware of what it takes to deal with two drivers battling for title supremacy, after three fraught and contentious years of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg competing with each other at the German marque between 2014 and 2016.
The Austrian stated confidence in the pair’s rivalry not spilling over any further, as previously espoused by the team’s boss, Andrea Stella.
“Absolutely, but as a Team Principal, you just need to hold the grip on it and not allow any shots from outside,” he said.
“I think how they handle it is very good, letting them race. I don’t see a situation where they’re taking each other out.”
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