Toto Wolff defends Max Verstappen after the GP of Belgium: “Max is completely right. If the FIA races continues to stop because of a little rain, they destroy what this sport really makes exciting: character, speed and competition.” Verstappen responded immediately.
The Grand Prix of Belgium has only just ended, but the aftermath of the controversial decisions of the FIA continues to heat the minds. The race, which was stopped several times due to heavy rainfall, led to frustration among both drivers and fans. One of the most pronounced votes was that of Max Verstappen, who accused the organization of taking the essence of Formula 1: racing under challenging circumstances.
To the surprise of many, Verstappen received open support from Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, despite their long history of rivalry. “This is not a sport for anxiety,” Wolff later said at the press conference. “If we stop at every splash of rain, then we might as well start racing Indoors. The true champions distinguish themselves in difficult situations.”
Max Verstappen did not let his response wait long. In a short interview with Dutch television, he said: “I appreciate Toto’s words. It is rare that someone from a rival team is so honest. We have to fight together for a sport in which guts and talent still count.”
Fans on social media were divided. Some praised Verstappen and Wolff for their guts to openly criticize the FIA, while others emphasized the danger of racing in heavy rain. “Safety must always be one,” wrote a fan on Twitter. “But this feels like an overreaction of the FIA.”
In the meantime, the FIA has announced that they have carefully evaluated the weather conditions and that the decisions have been made in the interest of safety. An official spokesperson stated: “We understand the frustration, but we take no risk when it comes to the welfare of the drivers.”
Yet the discussion does not seem to be closed by that. Multiple team bosses, including Zak Brown van McLaren, indicated that it is time for clear protocols on weather conditions. “Transparency and consistency are essential,” says Brown.
Whether this controversy will have consequences for future races will remain awaiting. What is clear: the tensions between teams, drivers and the FIA are running high again, and the call for change sounds louder than ever.
