Christian Danner for Mercedes: “Desperate move!” / System 1

Christian Danner (66) was a guest at Salzburg Hangar-7 on the ServusTV show “Sport and Talk from Hangar-7” as part of the Formula 1 talk on Monday. The Munich native spoke about world champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. But he also gave his opinion in detail about Toto Wolff and his Mercedes team.

“It’s definitely a tragedy that we’re witnessing,” says Danner without further ado. “It’s not just Hamilton’s attitude that he’s driving around without getting anywhere – also when it comes to the team. And the team boss who doesn’t know what to say anymore. He’s already angry – but on the other hand he says we did very well in Suzuka.”

The words of the Mercedes team boss surprised Danner: “When I heard Toto after the Suzuka race, I wondered if maybe he had watched another Grand Prix. You just have to see the truth. Ferrari has moved on and Mercedes is the Ferrari of the 2024 season.”

Danner recalls: “What do you do if I have a car that is difficult to drive and not very fast? Then I make a strategy that is sometimes absurd. Why? Because I hope and try to throw in a lucky punch – by the god of racing or the safety car or something – then maybe it worked. This is what Ferrari did last year. Then they threw the mill away and said they didn’t know what they were doing. But you knew it perfectly. But after one lap, depending on the strategy of one stop and with hard tires and so on. That was an act of desperation and things that show how desolate things are there.”

Regarding the possible transfer of Verstappen to Mercedes, Danner says: “Toto said clearly that I want him! What should he do? What he is definitely missing is Niki Lauda. He would implement it out there. Toto has an air team that he has to rely on. You can clearly see that very important things are coordinated by the principal. But the cars are not made by the principal. The driver then has to drive what it says. Christian Horner can manage anything he wants – the car works. That is Toto’s problem at the moment, and its drivers are also saying they are ‘lost’.”

Japan-GP, Suzuka Circuit

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:54:23,566 h
02. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +12.535 seconds
03. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +20,866
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +26,522
05. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +29.700
06. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +44,272
07. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +45,951
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +47.525
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +48,626
10. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, +1 Round
11. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1 lap
12. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1 Round
13. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Lap
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), clean, +1 lap
15. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1 Round
16. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1 Round
17. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1 Round

outside
Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, Elektrik
Alex Albon (T), Williams, Crash
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, Crash

World Championship Standings (after 4 out of 24 Grands Prix)

the driver
01. Verstappen 77 points
02. Perez 64
03. Leclerc 59
04. Sainz 55
05. Norris 37
06. Plate 32
07. Russell 24
08. Alonso 24
09. Hamilton 10
10. Walk 7
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 3
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Zhou 0
17. Ricciardo 0
18. Okon 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 141 Punkte
02. Ferrari 120
03. McLaren 69
04. Mercedes 34
05. Aston Martin 33
06. Running Bull 7
07. Especially 4
08. Williams 0
09. Sauber 0
10. Alpine 0