Max Verstappen trapped in F1 'horror show' - Toto Wolff

Max Verstappen is trapped in an F1 "horror show" according to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

Verstappen endured a dismal weekend at the Chinese GP, not scoring any points through a ninth-place in the Sprint, and DNF in the main race owing to an ERS cooling problem, to go with two botched starts which dropped him well down the order.

The Dutchman has been fiercely critical of the new F1 rules, stating after his DNF that the fact that the F1 viewer metrics showed approval: "I hope they don't think like that, because it will eventually ruin the sport, it will come and bite them back in the ass."

Reacting to Verstappen's comments, Mercedes boss Wolff felt the four-time champion was in "a horror show" but felt little sympathy. 

"I mean, Max is really, I think, in a horror show," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365.

"When you look at the onboard from qualifying, it was horrendous to drive, and you can see that, but it is not the same with many other teams.

"From an entertainment perspective, I believe what we saw between Ferrari and Mercedes was good racing with many overtakes.

"We were all a part of Formula 1 when there was no overtaking, literally, and we tried. We're sometimes too nostalgic about the good old years, but I think the product itself is good in itself.

"We saw quite some racing in the midfield, and that is a positive, but from a driver standpoint, when it comes to a balls-out qualifying lap, that is different.

"Clearing lifting and coasting in qualifying, I'm sure, for someone like Max, who is a full attack guy, is difficult to cope with and digest, but I would say it is more of a car-specific issue that is magnifying the problem.

"Because, if you sit in front of the TV, or in front of a screen, even Max would say that the racing was interesting. 

"Qualifying flat out would be nice, but when you look at the fans and the excitement when there is overtaking on social media, the younger fans, the vast majority through all the demographics, like the sport at that moment.

"So yes, we can always look at improving it, but at the moment, all the data and indicators say that people love it, and I spoke with Stefano [Domenicali], and he says that too. 

"It is driving the car that, for some, is not the most pleasant."