Toto Wolff’s praise for Red Bull during F1 testing was absolute ‘nonsense’ after all

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After early praise for Red Bull during the Bahrain Test, it is now clear that Toto Wolff’s comments were ‘nonsense’.

Before the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Toto Wolff was vocal that Red Bull had made the best car during the Bahrain Tests.

However, the Mercedes Formula 1 team principal clearly disguised the fact that Mercedes had made the better car, as during the opening two Grands Prix, they had been the top team.

At the Australian Grand Prix, they secured a 1-2 finish with George Russell securing victory, before Kimi Antonelli backed it up with a victory at the Chinese Grand Prix.

But Red Bull, on the other hand, have been in serious trouble as neither Max Verstappen nor Isack Hadjar have featured on the podium in either of the Grands Prix.

Is Toto Wolff playing mind games with Red Bull?

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Christian Danner says Toto Wolff’s comments were ‘nonsense’

When discussing the Chinese Grand Prix on Motorsport-Magazin, Christian Danner spoke about Red Bull’s struggles in the opening stages of the 2026 season.

The German driver reacted to Wolff’s original comments from the Bahrain Test, and said that it was clearly ‘nonsense’ because Red Bull have been struggling.

Danner said, “Red Bull made a much better impression in testing than what they’re showing now. It’s not like Toto Wolff says, ‘They’re going to nail us to the wall with the performance of that car. We don’t stand a chance.’

“No, dear Toto, that was nonsense, of course, what you said. But the performance of Hadjar and Verstappen is simply below average by Red Bull standards. It’s incredibly difficult to assess whether it’s the energy management. Is it the aerodynamics, the car having a bit less downforce compared to the competition? Is it the way the tyres are being managed? The old things we know – tyre management, aero – remain important even in this new era of energy management.

“And I think after these two races, a proper review will have to be done in Milton Keynes to determine where the problems actually lie. Because analysis is crucial, and that’s something we can already do quite well. We can see where the competition is faster. It’s the power unit, and I’m losing everything on the ditch, during turn-in, or during energy recuperation, etc. This can now be analysed quite effectively using the data, and that’s where we need to focus our efforts. One more area than in the past.

“Back then, it was just aero and tyre management. The rest was basically the same; the motors were all relatively similar. And now, it’s not just the motors themselves, with their power output, but also the energy recuperation, which is essentially equivalent to power. So there’s a lot to be done, but I assume they’re capable of responding.”

Is Toto Wolff planting the seeds for poaching Max Verstappen from Red Bull? 🤔

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Max Verstappen now needs to consider leaving Red Bull

Max Verstappen has been loyal to Red Bull since he entered Formula 1, but it is now suggested that Verstappen should consider leaving Red Bull for Mercedes.

Hezemans said, “Toto is going to talk to Max when his car is so fast that Max actually needs a Mercedes. That is the case now. So, I think Max is already eyeing that direction, because you have to.”

There have been discussions that Verstappen and Mercedes could join forces, as current Mercedes driver George Russell wants to go head-to-head with Verstappen in equal machinery.

Wolff has revealed why Russell wants to be teammates with Verstappen, “I think George is saying that because Max is widely considered as the best in the business and George wants to show that Max is not the best in the business, but it’s him.”