“Diminished Their Current Esteem”: Verstappen & Co’s $7,000,000 Crimes Bail Out Hamilton After Disrespectful Antics

Max Verstappen consistently excels, be it on long straights, in challenging weather, or while overtaking fierce competitors. However, are he and his team receiving the full recognition they deserve? According to Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle, that’s not the case. At the Italian GP, Max Verstappen shattered a decade-old record, putting him on course to join Formula 1’s elite. However, his journey since 2021, mired in controversy, still haunts Red Bull. Despite experts and fans lauding Verstappen’s dominance, Lewis Hamilton and his team remain unimpressed.

What’s the reason behind Lewis Hamilton and his team downplaying Max Verstappen’s dominance?

According to Hamilton and Toto Wolff, Verstappen’s success fails to impress because he is “stronger” than his teammate. Wolff even dismissed the double champion’s records as mere “Wikipedia” material. These comments have faced criticism from many F1 fans and experts, with Martin Brundle explaining that Red Bull’s violation of the budget cap, resulting in a $7,000,000 fine, has cast a shadow over Milton Keynes’ reputation.

As noted by Motorsport-total Brundle’s perspective provides insight into Mercedes diminishing Red Bull’s achievements in Formula 1 by disrespectful antics. As he said, “At the same time, Max and Red Bull will no doubt reflect on some actions and words in the past that have diminished their current appreciation in some circles.”

READ MORE: Verstappen’s “Don’t Care About Breaking Records” Claim Called Out as Marko Reveals Nerve-Wracking Scenario before Italian GP 

Red Bull’s remarkable consistency on the track has left Toto Wolff and his team feeling overwhelmed. Their success serves as a constant reminder that the perfect win record might have been within Mercedes’ reach. However, this is not the case, and Toto Wolff indirectly points the finger at Red Bull for this realization.

Toto Wolff reveals why Mercedes didn’t get to the “perfect haul”

In Formula 1, numerous teams and individuals have enjoyed moments of domination, but the level of control exhibited by Max Verstappen and his team has left the F1 community in awe. However, Toto Wolff, the head of the Mercedes team, holds a different perspective. Despite Red Bull’s current dominance, which has left Mercedes as the last team to win a Grand Prix at the Brazilian GP last year, Wolff believes that they might set a new record by winning every race this year. Simultaneously, he supports Lewis Hamilton’s statement that Verstappen hasn’t faced a “stronger teammate” capable of pushing the second car to the limit.

Wolff explained in an interview with Autosport that in 2016, his team pushed both cars to the limit, resulting in Mercedes winning 19 out of 21 races, with the remaining two instances marked by an engine failure in Malaysia and the fight between Rosberg and Hamilton in Spain. However, in the case of Red Bull, the team primarily supports Verstappen, leaving more room for securing a perfect haul.

He said, “I think they need to screw it up themselves in order not to win every race this season.” Adding further, he said, “And by the way, that’s a record I would think is a good one because that is perfection. We didn’t make it because our two pushed each other out in Barcelona [in 2016] and then we had an engine failure in Malaysia.” 

WATCH THIS STORY: Roger Federer Stands Strongly Behind Struggling Lewis Hamilton in Dire Times of Max Verstappen’s Dominance

According to you, which dominance was better? The Red Bull or the Mercedes?