FEATURE
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff is not happy at the way Red Bull driver Max Verstappen battled aggressively with Formula 1 world championship contender Nico Rosberg during the Mexican Grand Prix , risking a collision between the two during a scarp for second place .
After the race Wolff said in reference to Verstappen ’ s tactics , “ You don ’ t bang wheels with the championship leader three races from the end . The team have given him that guidance , but maybe in the car and when the visor is down , it is difficult .”
The pair nearly came together on the opening lap as the field stormed into Turn 1 and then later in the race he attacked Rosberg in Turn 4 , another incident which could have ended in tears .
Nevertheless the Mercedes chief acknowledges Verstappen ’ s talent and style , “ I think it is very refreshing how he drives and his driving is ruthless . I like that . I think that the team gave him a radio call and I am not sure , if I read it right , but when he was catching up , they said : Keep it clean with Nico . This is exactly what I would have said to him .
Verstappen received a five seconds penalty for short-cutting the track in the Turn 1 / Turn 2 complex which in the end demoted him to fourth in the standings . Afterwards it was asked why Lewis Hamilton did not receive a penalty on the opening lap for a similar transgression .
Wolff explained , “ I think the big difference it was a lap 1 incident and on the other side you could also say that Max could have got a penalty for banging wheels with the championship leader into Turn 1 and pushing him off the track .”
“ I think maybe the penalty [ Verstappen ] got at the end was a consequence of all the driving and as refreshing as it is , and how ruthless the great ones are – and this is just my opinion and I won ’ t comment on the other one – if you race the championship leader three races down to the end wheel banging is not what should happen ,” added Wolff .
Verstappen ’ s manager Raymond Vermeulen told Bild after the race in Mexico , “ Max drove a strong race , but was punished because he cut a corner , however for the same offence Rosberg and Hamilton were not . That is double standards .”
“ We fight for every position , but we do not interfere in the world championship ,” insisted Vermeulen .