Toto Wolff reveals major Lewis Hamilton moment to blame for 'bad' Max Verstappen relationship

Toto Wolff and Max Verstapen F1 — Photo: © IMAGO

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Wolff reveals major Hamilton moment to blame for 'bad' Verstappen relationship

Max Verstappen has been linked with a move to Mercedes

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Monday 26 August 2024 20:57

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Toto Wolff has recently opened up about a significant ‘mistake’ he made in his relationship with the Verstappens.

Mercedes and Red Bull are two of the most dominant teams in the modern era of F1, however during the 2021 season they were both locked in an intense rivalry.

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Following four-consecutive titles for Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen mounted a challenge to the seven-time world champion in what was a thrilling season.

The pair found themselves colliding on various occasions, including Monza, Saudi Arabia and most controversially Silverstone.

Lewis Hamilton lost the 2021 title on the last lap in Abu Dhabi

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton clashed at the 2021 British GP

Toto Wolff reveals Silverstone 2021 ‘mistake’

Hamilton and Verstappen came together during Lap 1 of the British Grand Prix, where Verstappen sustained a 51G hit in the impact at Copse Corner.

It was Hamilton who came out on top, with Red Bull calling out Mercedes’ celebrations afterwards as disrespectful.

In a recent interview, Toto Wolff has since revealed that their reaction was a ‘mistake’ and that it caused a bad relationship with the Verstappens.

"We had a bad relationship for a while and that started in Silverstone in 2021," Wolff said to Algemeen Dagblad.

"That season took its toll. It was so intense and we all felt that things were not right between us.

Toto Wolff admits handling of 2021 Silverstone crash was a 'mistake'

"Where it really went wrong was in Silverstone, where I made a mistake. I didn't call Jos on the day of the incident and I should have."

Since Hamilton announced his departure from Mercedes, Wolff has been trying to acquire the signature of Verstappen, revealing that their relationship has since been repaired.

“In 2022 I had a conversation with Jos in Singapore. We were transparent about the mistakes we made on both sides,” Wolff added.

“This sport demands so much from you that you sometimes look at events with tunnel vision. That happened in 2021 and it wasn't good."