P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff ramping up his public pursuit of Max Verstappen in the aftermath of the Chinese Grand Prix has earned a sharp rebuke from Wolff’s Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner
Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff has been openly expressing his interest in Max Verstappen, which has led to a strong response from Red Bull’s Christian Horner. Wolff acknowledged the challenges with the Mercedes car in the Chinese Grand Prix and discussed the likelihood of convincing Verstappen to join. He emphasized that there are many factors other than performance that influence a driver’s decision. Horner firmly stated that Verstappen is committed to Red Bull until 2028 and pointed out that Mercedes should focus on other matters instead of pursuing unavailable drivers. Verstappen reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull, highlighting the positive team environment and performance discussions. Horner emphasized that Verstappen has repeatedly clarified his dedication to Red Bull and questioned the need to address rumors of his departure. In terms of recent achievements, Red Bull has surpassed Mercedes in the number of wins in the modern era, making it a strong and desirable team to be a part of.
