Toto Wolff has dismissed the FIA’s complaints over booing of Max Verstappen and Christian Horner at F1 75 Live in London last week – adding that the event was “mega.”
All 10 teams and 20 drivers were present at The O2 Arena last week, with Lewis Hamilton receiving a rapturous reception as he appeared in Ferrari red.
FOLLOW LIVE: F1 testing in Bahrain as Hamilton debuts for Ferrari
However, Red Bull’s four-time world champion Verstappen received a swathe of jeers when he was introduced by host Jack Whitehall, which was then drowned out by cheering and applause. Later on, Red Bull team principal Horner was booed by the 15,000-strong crowd.
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The FIA condemned the “tribalist reaction” of the British fans in a statement on Saturday, while Verstappen has threatened to boycott any future F1 launch events in England.
Mercedes boss Wolff, however, insists Verstappen “was not booed” and praised the unique event which launched the 2025 season.
“We shouldn’t talk an event down that was mega just because one single individual, rightly or wrongly, was booed when he spoke,” he told Sky Sports.
“It was a great event. The spectators there were great. The presentation of the cars was good.
“And it sets a new format for the years to come and that is the positive we need to take from that.”
When asked if Wolff himself booed old foe Horner, the Austrian replied: “No I wasn’t booing – there was 15,000 people that did that!
“It wasn’t necessary that I did.”
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It is understood the subject of booing at the event last week in London will be raised at a World Motor Sport Council meeting this week.
Jos Verstappen, Max’s father and former F1 driver, told RaceXpress over the weekend that it was “unacceptable” that his son was booed by the 15,000-strong crowd.
Verstappen and teammate Liam Lawson were also the only drivers not to be interviewed on stage during the event.
Pre-season testing takes place in Bahrain this week, ahead of the first race of the season – the Australian Grand Prix – on 16 March.
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