Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff defended Max Verstappen after he was called a “narcissist” by 2016 Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg.
The pair were talking in the German’s new podcast Beyond Victory in which Rosberg appeared to criticise the Red Bull driver’s approach.
“If you take Verstappen, he is a narcissist like you write it in the dictionary,” he said. “How can you not doubt yourself if you make the same mistake six times?
“[Yet], the seventh time you still do the same but it happens to work because you have so much talent and then it turns into a success streak.”
Soon though, the former Mercedes driver actually suggested Verstappen’s approach might be a positive.
“Being extremely narcissistic when you have the talent can be a powerful force, and maybe even the most powerful,” he added.
Also Read:
- Verstappen rejects ‘Mad Max’ tag but insists: ‘I will always go for it’
- Jos Verstappen: Only the ‘outside world made a problem’ with Max last year
Wolff was quick to respond however, suggesting the Dutchman’s exuberance is understandable.
“There is a part in his life that we don’t see, for example, the relationship with his father,” the Austrian said. “I think Jos gives his son very direct feedback, he certainly doesn’t restrain himself.
“Max’s behaviour is self-confident in a way you could also say over-confident, but he is very young.”
Indeed, Wolff would recall a moment from last season which has continued to rile Verstappen as an example where maturity while eventually make the 21-year-old understand he was wrong.
“When he collided with Valtteri in Monza last year it is pretty obvious there was not enough space,” he claimed.
“I watched a reply a few days ago, it was on Sky and Martin Brundle, who knows everything, even said there was not enough space.
“I think the older he gets the more he matures he is going to get that anger under control.
“If you remember how you were when you were 19, 20 – I know what I was like, you’ll see another story. You have to include his age.”
