Toto Wolff blames “horror show” Red Bull for Max Verstappen's F1 rules hatred

Mercedes Formula 1 team boss Toto Wolff believes Red Bull’s “horror show” car is behind Max Verstappen’s latest rules rant after the Chinese Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion launched a fresh assault on F1’s 2026 cars, branding anyone who enjoys the current racing product as not a “real fan”.

It follows on from continued criticism of the new car rules since pre-season testing, and comes amid a poor start to the campaign for Red Bull, which carried on this weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Mercedes and Ferrari have generally been the most vocal supporters of the current rules, having so far locked out the podium in 2026.

But Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes Red Bull’s car issues “magnify” Verstappen’s angst about the new rules.

“I think Max is in a horror show,” Wolff told the media on Sunday in Shanghai following Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s maiden win.

“When you look at the onboards when he is in qualifying yesterday, it’s just horrendous to drive, and you can see that.

“But it’s not the same with many other teams. From an entertainment perspective, I believe, with what we’ve seen today between Ferrari and Mercedes, was good racing, many overtakes.

“We were all part of Formula 1 whenever there were no overtakes, and sometimes we are too nostalgic about the good old years.

“But I think the product is good, we saw some good racing in the midfield also.

“I think that’s positive. Now, from a driver’s standpoint, when it comes to the all balls out qualifying lap, that is different.

“Clearly, lift and coast for a qualifying lap for a guy like Max, who is all attack, is difficult to cope with and digest.

“But I would say it’s more a car-specific issue that kind of magnifies the problem that it is, because if you sit in front of a TV or a screen, even Max would say that was interesting racing at the front.”

Verstappen said on Sunday in China that his view on the rules would be the same even if he was fighting at the front.

Wolff: All indicators suggest new rules welcomed by fans

Wolff accepts that the qualifying spectacle could be better under the new regulations, but believes the criticism being thrown around is not a true reflection of what the fans think.

“Qualifying flat out would be nice, but when you look at the fans and their excitement live, the cheering when there is overtakes, and also on social media the younger fans, the vast majority of all the demographics like the sport at the moment,” he added.

“Yes, we can always look at how we can improve it. But, at the moment, all the indicators say, and all the data says people love it.

“I spoke with Stefano [Domenicali] and he said so too. So, it’s driving the car that, for some, is not the most pleasant.”