Toto Wolff has fired back at Max Verstappen and Red Bull following the Dutch driver’s harsh criticism of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations. Verstappen once again attacked the new rules after the Chinese Grand Prix, calling the race “like Mario Kart” and claiming that fans who enjoy this style of racing “don’t understand racing.” Wolff, however, responded firmly, pointing the finger at Red Bull instead.
The Mercedes team principal, speaking in post-race interviews after Mercedes secured a second consecutive 1-2 finish, overturned the narrative and highlighted Red Bull’s struggles. “Max is really living a nightmare: when you watch the onboard footage from his qualifying laps, it’s clear that the car is simply horrible to drive. But it’s not like this for many other teams,” Wolff said.
According to Wolff, Verstappen’s criticisms are more related to the disastrous state of his car rather than the regulations themselves. The four-time world champion endured another frustrating weekend in Shanghai, with disastrous starts and a retirement that capped off a very challenging weekend.
Lift-and-coast? Hard to digest for an “all-out attacker”
The Mercedes boss acknowledged that some aspects of the 2026 rules could be improved, particularly the lift-and-coast in qualifying. “For someone like Max, who is an all-out attacking type, it’s hard to digest,” Wolff explained. Still, he insisted that the race between Ferrari and Mercedes was exciting and packed with overtakes.
“From an entertainment point of view, what we saw today was good racing. All the data shows that fans love it,” Wolff concluded. A clear message: driver opinions matter, but the fans come first.
New F1 rules popular with fans
Wolff also noted that social media reactions and live fan support are extremely positive, as confirmed by the viewing figures on Sky. “The vast majority of fans, across all demographics, love this sport right now.” The team principal also spoke with Stefano Domenicali, who shared the same view. Meanwhile, Red Bull will need to address its ongoing car issues.
The success of the Chinese Grand Prix in terms of fan engagement suggests that the 2026 experiment is working for the viewers, even if it remains a polarizing topic among the elite drivers. Whether Max Verstappen can adapt his “total attack” style to the strategic demands of energy management remains one of the most compelling subplots of the year.
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