Mexico City Grand Prix

Wolff explains “bulls**t” Red Bull title pressure

Sam Hall Saturday 6 November 2021 14:30

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has labelled talks of "pressure" in the Formula 1 title fight as "bulls**t".

Max Verstappen arrived in Mexico with a slender 12 point lead over Lewis Hamilton with just five events remaining.

Whilst this is Verstappen's first experience of a title fight in the sport, Hamilton is a seasoned veteran with his seven world titles speaking volumes.

However, Wolff refuses to believe that either driver will be affected by the pressure as the season draws to a close.

“The whole pressure discussion is all bulls**t," said Wolff.

"When you are getting into the car, you have done it all your life, you drive as well as you can. Sometimes you make a mistake, sometimes not, and it is the same with the team.

“You just need to have a good car and look after yourself while being in the right spot and I believe in car performance and I believe in human performance.

“If you are not mentally able to perform at the very pinnacle of racing, you wouldn’t have made it into Formula 1 and he wouldn’t have won races."

Of the 17 races so far this year, Hamilton and Verstappen have taken a combined 13 race wins with team-mates Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez also claiming one apiece.

Further backing Wolff's dismissal that Verstappen could be hampered by pressure is the Dutchman's record across the season with top-two finishes in 13 of the 14 races in which he has taken the chequered flag.

The only exception came in Hungary where the Red Bull driver battled a heavily damaged car after a turn one accident involving Bottas.

“We are talking about two drivers that are of exceptional talent," added Wolff.

"One is a seven-time world champion, the only one in the 100 grands prix victory club, the most pole positions ever and doesn’t need to prove anything anymore to anybody.

“He is fighting a young up and coming driver that is in a good car and that is the fight it is, simply said.”