Wolff credits Verstappen himself, not Red Bull's upgrade, for Austria podium threat

Max Verstappen finished just 1.6 seconds behind race winner George Russell at the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, coming closer than at any other point this season to ending his wait for a first 2025 victory. Starting fifth, the Dutchman carved through the field to claim second place and only his second podium of the year.

Red Bull arrived at the Red Bull Ring with a significant upgrade package aimed at closing the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari, the two teams that had held the upper hand in recent rounds. But Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was unconvinced that the new parts alone explained the performance, pointing instead to the driver behind the wheel.

“Red Bull is one thing, but it was Max Verstappen,” Wolff said after the race. “For me, how it feels is like Max won every single race here that he’s ever participated in, in whatever car. Spielberg is one of his strong places. The car seems to have been going well and the Ferraris, I don’t know what happened to them.”

Verstappen has won five Formula 1 races at the Red Bull Ring, including both the Styrian and Austrian Grands Prix in 2021, giving him an exceptional record at a circuit that has long suited his driving style.

Wolff was also asked whether Verstappen should now be considered a genuine championship threat, or at least a factor capable of disrupting the title fight between the frontrunners. The Austrian deflected with a joke — “I think this could be a George Russell thought” — before acknowledging the broader point.

“Max is always good for playing a role in the championship,” Wolff said. “That car performed well this weekend. I think the biggest factor this weekend was Max, to be honest. He’s able to bring out everything that is in that car. You can see that with his team-mates. That’s why you can never discount or underestimate the Verstappen factor for a championship.”

Despite the strong showing in Austria, Verstappen sits seventh in the drivers’ standings, 98 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian, who finished third in Spielberg, has extended his advantage over Russell to 40 points, with Lewis Hamilton a further six points back in third.