Toto Wolff insists his relationship with Max Verstappen’s father was not impacted by 2021 Abu Dhabi fiasco

Toto Wolff asserted that he still had a good relationship with Max Verstappen's father Jos Verstappen despite the 2021 controversy.

Toto Wolff insists his relationship with Max Verstappen’s father was not impacted by 2021 Abu Dhabi fiasco

Max Verstappen and Jos Verstappen (via Red Bull), Toto Wolff (via IMAGO)

Max Verstappen emerged victorious in the 2021 Drivers’ Championship in one of the most controversial manners. Mercedes’s boss Toto Wolff still resents the situation that caused the team’s star, Lewis Hamilton to lose out on his record-breaking eighth world championship. After the championship fiasco, Wolff asserted that he didn’t have ill relations with Verstappen’s father Jos Verstappen.

Toto Wolff recently claimed that he wasn’t still over the controversial end to the 2021 Abu Dhabi. Wolff further doubled down on his words and added that he wasn’t depressed or sad following the controversy. Moreover, speaking on the relationship, the Mercedes boss declared that Max Verstappen‘s father and he had good relations which weren’t visible publicly.

We get on very well, not always in the visibility of the public eye. I’ve known Jos [Verstappen] for a long time. He’s my age. We have similar views on racing.

Toto Wolff said on the High Performance Podcast
YouTube video

Jos Verstappen is also infamous for his cold and straightforward attitude on the grid about matters related to Formula 1. However, Wolff reiterated that the issues in the 2021 season didn’t put a ‘shadow’ on the personal relationship between the two. Hence, despite the bad situation at the end of the season, the relationship between the two has remained intact until now.

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I wouldn’t want the year 2021 to put any shadow on any personal relationship that we have. It was bad enough that year, but the relationships are intact.

Toto Wolff added

Toto Wolff still hopeful of a late Max Verstappen move to Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton‘s shocking switch to Ferrari in the coming season opened up the possibility of Max Verstappen’s entry. Toto Wolff had given it his all to acquire the reigning world champion under the German carmaker but all in vain. Moreover, the prodigy Kimi Antonelli’s entry put forth an interesting situation for the team. Regardless, Wolff reckoned that moving to the next generation was an obvious choice but the thought of Verstappen to Mercedes still lingered in his mind.

I think it feels natural now to go to the next generation. Max is a great driver and an interesting personality. God knows what happens in the future.

Toto Wolff noted
Toto Wolff (via planetf1)
Toto Wolff (via planetf1)

Mercedes’s performance in the 2024 season has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. The team has scored three highly coveted race wins this season and also experienced massive performance issues. Hence, the team will take great learnings for the coming season and aim to start the season on a high note with the two young drivers.