Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated that Max Verstappen was the primary driver behind Red Bull Racing's competitive performance during the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, June 28, 2026, downplaying the sole impact of Red Bull's latest vehicle upgrades.
Verstappen, who started the race from fifth position at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, finished in second place, trailing race winner George Russell by just over 1.6 seconds.
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Red Bull introduced a significant aerodynamic upgrade package for the event to close the performance gap on recent frontrunners Mercedes and Ferrari.
The technical upgrades provided a clear performance step for Red Bull, but Wolff emphasized that the driver made the difference.
When asked if he was surprised to see Red Bull emerge as the main challenger instead of Ferrari, Wolff shared his perspective on the competitive order.
"I am not surprised at all," said Toto Wolff, Team Principal of Mercedes.
The Mercedes chief noted that the circuit has historically been a strong venue for the Dutch driver, who has previously secured five Formula 1 victories at the Red Bull Ring, including two race wins in the 2021 season.
"Red Bull is one thing, but it was Max Verstappen.
For me it feels like Max has won every race here he has ever competed in, in any car.
Spielberg is one of his strong places," said Toto Wolff.
Wolff acknowledged that the upgraded Red Bull package functioned well during the race weekend, while expressing uncertainty regarding the performance drop from their Italian rivals.
