Wolff believes 'everything easier' now for Verstappen

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes everything is "easier" for Max Verstappen this year.

Red Bull driver Verstappen edged out Lewis Hamilton to secure his maiden F1 drivers' title last year after a dramatic and controversial season-long battle.

But whilst the sport's new era has seen Mercedes take a step backwards in the pecking order, Red Bull has performed strongly in the opening five races although its pace has been blighted by reliability issues.

When asked by Oe24 about the Dutchman's prospects this year, Wolff replied: "Last year, Max drove a worse car and won the title.

"Now he has the fastest car, everything is easier for him, the pendulum is swinging in his favour."

Mercedes not "dramatically behind"

Mercedes sits 62 points adrift of constructors' championship-leading team Ferrari after the first five races with issues with porpoising and tyre warm-up hindering progress with its W13.

Asked if the season was a write-off already, Wolff insisted: "No, not at all.

"We're only [after] our fifth race, so you can't write anything off, it can swing back in our direction.

"And in terms of points, we are not yet dramatically behind."

George Russell has outscored Hamilton since making the switch from Williams to the Silver Arrows but despite suggestion from various former drivers and pundits that the seven-time champion had now slipped behind his younger team-mate, Wolff remains unmoved.

"I hardly follow it," he added.

"And when I pick up one or two comments, I can only smile about them. George is doing a good job, but that's exactly what we expected from him, that's why he's at Mercedes."

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