Max Verstappen hits out at Toto Wolff for defending manhole incident, claims he ‘expected nothing less from him’

Max Verstappen did not approve of Toto Wolff's opposition of Ferrari's request to let Carlos Sainz replace components without a penalty.

Max Verstappen hits out at Toto Wolff for defending manhole incident, claims he ‘expected nothing less from him’

Max Verstappen [L] Toto Wolff [R] (images via IMAGO0

Max Verstappen supported Carlos Sainz after the latter’s accident in FP1. The Spaniard drove over a water valve from an exposed manhole cover, which ended his session. Ferrari had to replace most of the components, including the energy store on Sainz’s car, due to the damage incurred. 

Because the quota for energy stores had been reached, an additional one cost Sainz a 10-place grid drop. The Singapore GP winner protested as the track and not the team were responsible for the damage. The FIA denied the request not to penalize Sainz and gave him the 10-place drop. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was against the Ferrari protest and supported F1’s decision to hand Sainz the penalty.

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Max Verstappen slammed Toto Wolff for the opposition of the penalty. Verstappen said Wolff would have a very different reaction if it had been a Mercedes car rather than a Ferrari. The Dutchman pointed out the potential danger of the incident, as Sainz had said he couldn’t feel his legs. Verstappen also lashed out at Wolff, saying he “expected nothing less” from the Austrian team principal.

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I think he would have spoken differently if it was his car, but I expected nothing less from him.

Toto Wolff’s opinion is fuelled by the Mercedes-Ferrari battle for 2nd place in the Constructors’ Championship. The Austrian team principal has been fighting to improve Mercedes’ position in the standings from last year. Meanwhile, Ferrari is looking to repeat their 2022 performance, and the Las Vegas GP could help them do that, with Charles Leclerc on pole.

Max Verstappen says teams should not have a say in decisions like Carlos Sainz’s penalty

Carlos Sainz was penalized after an incident though it was no fault of his. The Spaniard’s penalty was deemed unfair by many in the F1 community. Ferrari also felt that Sainz deserved to evade the grid drop, and brought up a request to the FIA to rectify the issue.

Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen
Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

The FIA reviewed Ferrari’s request, but opposition from at least one team meant Sainz did not get away with replacing his energy store. Max Verstappen said that he felt teams should not be given a say in such decisions. The Dutchman pointed out that rival teams would vote for whatever would benefit themselves, regardless of the circumstances.

Teams should not be allowed to have a say in these kind of things. For sure they are going to vote against that. I think it’s very hard on Carlos. In this political environment we are in, every team thinks about themselves.

Ferrari has shown exceptional pace all weekend, emerging on top in nearly every session. Due to the penalty, they now have only one car in the top 10 for the Grand Prix. Sainz’s teammate Charles Leclerc will lead the way from the pole in his bid to make amends for the Sao Paulo formation lap retirement.

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