Martin Brundle calls out Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff over Red Bull disrespect

Michelle Foster 05 Sep 2023 6:45 AM

Max Verstappen celebrates victory after getting out of his car at Monza.

Martin Brundle is a “little surprised and disappointed” in Toto Wolff for dismissing Max Verstappen’s epic run when the Red Bull driver set a new record for the most consecutive wins at Monza.

Verstappen had to overcome a stiff challenge from Carlos Sainz, passing the Ferrari driver on lap 15 of the Italian Grand Prix before racing to his 10th win on the trot.

That set a new record for the most successive wins in Formula 1 with the Red Bull driver beating Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 tally of nine.

Martin Brundle applauds Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s achievement

Neither Lewis Hamilton nor Wolff were complimentary with the Mercedes driver saying he’s“no more impressed”with Verstappen’s success than he was with other drivers’ past achievements. He went on to declare he’s always had “stronger” teammates than Verstappen has had.

As for Wolff, he said Verstappen’s new record is “for Wikipedia and nobody reads that anyway“.

Brundle was not particularly impressed with Mercedes’ response to Verstappen’s achievement.

“For Max Verstappen to win 10 consecutive races, along with Red Bull taking all 15 races so far this season, it’s truly something to behold,” he wrote in his post-Monza column forSky Sports F1.

“What an achievement to faultlessly keep up that level of performance and reliability on many different track layouts and in varying weather conditions, up against mighty opposition. Congratulations to each and every one of them.

“If a tennis player or football or rugby team for example was so utterly complete and dominant, they would rightly be globally lauded at the highest level. As should this pairing be.

“体育可以而且应该部落,但你必须确定ly also appreciate a level of excellence in others.

“So I was a little surprised and disappointed that Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff played down this achievement over the weekend because they rightly received their due reverence and appreciation during their years of total domination from 2014 to 2020.”

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He, though, concedes Red Bull haven’t done themselves any favours with “past actions and words” with the team breaking the budget cap in 2021, the season in which Verstappen won his first World title in controversial circumstances.

“At the same time Max and Red Bull will no doubt reflect on a few past actions and words which have diluted their current appreciation levels in some quarters,” Brundle added. “But it’s all to be expected when you put so many intensely competitive people into the same space.”

Red Bull also extended their record for the most successive wins, 15, at Monza with Verstappen taking a 145-point lead over Sergio Perez in theDrivers’ standings.