Max Verstappen criticizes Toto Wolff after Mercedes boss’s comments about record winning streak

Max Verstappen took his 10th consecutive Formula 1 win at Monza; Toto Wolff said the line would not be “important” to him and is “for Wikipedia”. Watch all sessions from the Singapore Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday, with racing on Sunday at 1pm

Max Verstappen has brushed off Toto Wolff’s dismissive comments about his record winning streak and suggested the Mercedes team principal spends too much time talking about Red Bull.

Verstappen, who is closing in on a third consecutive world championship, won the Italian Grand Prix earlier this month to become the first driver to win 10 consecutive races in Formula 1.

Speaking immediately after the race at Monza, Wolff said the line would not be “important” for him but “for Wikipedia”.

“No, I’m not disappointed by that,” Verstappen said of Wolff’s comments ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

“I mean they had a great race, so he was probably still mad about their performance.”

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff wonders whether Max Verstappen’s new record of ten consecutive Grand Prix victories will hold any significance.

Wolff’s previously dominant Mercedes team, which won eight consecutive constructors’ titles between 2014 and 2021, has been struggling since the introduction of new design regulations at the start of the 2022 season.

Mercedes sits second in the constructors’ standings, but with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finishing fifth and sixth respectively at Monza, Red Bull are already in a position to clinch the title this weekend in Singapore.

While the gap in performance has seen the fierce rivalry between the two teams subside in 2021, Wolff and Hamilton have made regular verbal digs during Verstappen’s winning streak.

“He seems like an employee of our team sometimes, but no, fortunately not,” Verstappen said.

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Max Verstappen had a weekend to remember last year in Singapore after a fuel-poor blunder in qualifying and an error-filled race that saw him finish seventh.

“I think it’s important to focus on your team – that’s what we do, and what we’ve done in the past as well when we were behind them and when they were dominating.

“I think you have to be able to appreciate when a team does really well, which I think we’ve done in the past, because it was also kind of an inspiration – to see someone dominant was very impressive at the time.

“We knew we had to work harder, try to be better, try to get to this level.

“Now that we’re there, of course we’re very happy to be there and enjoying the moment, and honestly that’s all I can say about it.”

Verstappen: Street circuits are tougher for Red Bull

Verstappen’s strong performance has helped Red Bull win all 14 races this season, but the Dutchman warned that Singapore’s stunning street circuit could provide his team with perhaps the biggest challenge in the remaining eight grands prix.

“I think we are not able to compete as in other circuits,” he said. “I think street circuits are a little tougher for our car.

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Take a look at some of the most dramatic moments that happened at the Singapore Grand Prix.

“I still think we can do a good job, but it will be very difficult.”

Although cautious about Red Bull’s performance, Verstappen said he did not feel any additional pressure to maintain his winning streak after breaking Sebastian Vettel’s record at Monza.

He added: “No, I never looked at number eight, nine or 10. I always want to do my best.”

“So, naturally every weekend there’s the same amount of pressure you put on yourself to try to get the best out of it. So, nothing really changes from that aspect.”

Live Singapore Grand Prix schedule on Sky Sports F1

Friday 15 September
10am: Singapore GP Practice One (session starts at 10:30am)
1.45pm: Singapore General Training 2 (session starts at 2pm)
3.30pm: Formula 1 show

Saturday 16 September
10.15am: Singapore General Training 3 (session starts at 10.30am)
1pm: Singapore Grand Prix qualifying preparations
2pm: Singapore Grand Prix qualifying
3.45pm: Ted’s qualifying notebook

Sunday 17 September
11.30pm: Sunday Grand Prix: Singapore Grand Prix preparations
1pm: Singapore Grand Prix
3pm: Checkered flag: Singapore Grand Prix reaction
4pm: Ted’s notebook

Next in the Formula 1 circus are the stunning streets of Singapore under the lights. All sessions from the Singapore Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 from September 15-17. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW. Cancel at any time