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

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff — Photo: © LAT Images

Mexico City Grand Prix

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

Wolff is confident neither Hamilton nor Verstappen will fold under the pressure of the F1 title fight

Sam Hall

Saturday 6 November 2021 14:30

Make us your Google favorite

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.

Article continues under video

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.”