The fallout from the Austrian Grand Prix crash involving Max Verstappen has taken an unexpected turn, with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff siding with the Dutch driver. Wolff disagreed with McLaren’s Andrea Stella, who linked Verstappen’s clash with Lando Norris to his aggressive defending against Lewis Hamilton during the 2021 title fight.

Hamilton and Verstappen’s 2021 rivalry saw numerous aggressive moves from Verstappen. Recently, Verstappen collided with Norris in Austria, resulting in punctures for both cars and a 10-second penalty for Verstappen. Stella expressed frustration, suggesting past incidents with Hamilton weren’t adequately punished, leading to current issues.

Wolff defended Verstappen, stating, “It’s been so long and from our side. We are in a different place today, and I think he is. It takes two to tango. I don’t think they have a correlation.”

Hamilton also shared his view: “What happened in 2021 is in the past, but it does shape how drivers approach their races. Max is a great driver, but sometimes these things happen in racing. We all have to learn and move forward.”

Hamilton’s comments highlight a focus on moving forward while learning from past experiences, amidst speculation about future team dynamics.