Max Verstappen’s father Jos has unleashed a tirade of criticism in the direction of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and the sport of Formula One in general ahead of this weekend’s title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Verstappen will go into Sunday’s race on the same number of points as Lewis Hamilton at the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings, with history set to be written under the lights at the Yas Marina Circuit regardless of the outcome.
This season’s titanic battle between Verstappen and Hamilton has been overshadowed by controversy both on and off the track in recent weeks and last weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was no exception.
Hamilton managed to take the chequered flag despite crashing into the back of his Red Bull rival and damaging his front wing during the closing stages of the race.
Verstappen was later awarded a 10-second penalty but managed to keep hold of his second-placed finish, with Valtteri Bottas rounding off the podium in third.
Mercedes team principal Wolff went on to slam Verstappen’s driving style after the end of the race, suggesting that the Dutchman’s uncompromising manner could see the Drivers’ Championship title decided by another controversial incident in Abu Dhabi.
However, Verstappen’s father Jos has since hit back by accusing Wolff and Mercedes of refusing to take responsibility for their own shortcomings.
The 63-year-old, who achieved two podium finishes during his time in F1 between 1994 and 2003, also suggested that the FIA have been far too kind to the Silver Arrows over the course of the current campaign.
“All they do at Mercedes is shift the blame onto others,” he told De Telegraaf.
“In one way or another they have an edge with the FIA. If you analyse everything, the viewer doesn’t understand the decisions anymore.
“And I’m not just talking about the last race. Whoever becomes champion; I have lost my trust in Formula One and I think it is a big shame what is happening here.”
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