Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also observed Max Verstappen‘s dominant victory in Baku. The Austrian has often tipped his hat to the world champion and therefore never rules out Verstappen for a world title. Even though the gap between Verstappen and current championship leader Oscar Piastri is still large, Wolff warns, ‘You always have to be on your guard with Max.’
Max Verstappen consecutively won the Grands Prix of Italy and Azerbaijan. As a result, many experts have once again started considering the Dutchman as a serious title contender since the race in Baku. The two McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were unable to put up a fight against the reigning world champion during those same two weekends.
‘Always Watch Out for Max’
Toto Wolff, who has previously made no secret of his desire to bring Verstappen to Mercedes, also takes the Dutchman into account in the battle for the world title. “I think you always have to stay grounded and remain humble,” Wolff tells the media in Azerbaijan. “Max has had a good run. The car is good. Max Verstappen, you always have to be on your guard for what he can achieve, especially now that it’s possible again.”
However, the Austrian does notice that the gap between Verstappen and the two McLaren drivers is still large in the championship. “Everything has to work out well for him,” Wolff continues. “But you could already see in Baku that a dropout for the championship leader (Piastri) clears the way for Max to grab twenty-five World Championship points. So things can change quickly.” Verstappen himself, however, is not yet convinced and says he is currently assessing his chances race by race.
