Toto Wolff points finger at F1 stewards as aggressive Max Verstappen style "legitimised"

Mercedes chief isn't surprised by aggressive style in recent races, suggesting a failure to penalise over the years has shaped his approach.

Verstappen got into hot water during Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix, after clashing with title rival Lando Norris. The drivers' championship leader also received two penalty points on his super-licence following one particular incident.

Plenty of pundits and drivers have given their own verdict on Verstappen's approach. Formula 1 stewards have also been criticised for their handling of the champion's behaviour, with after the United States Grand Prix in Austin.

Wolff's Mercedes team have seen their drivers do battle with Verstappen over a number of years. The Austrian has his own feelings about the Dutch driver's approach, but appeared to recognise a lack of punsihment was unlikely to deter him from continuing to push the rules to their limit.

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“A driver will always push to the limit,” Wolff said, as reported by . “When the rules, or the execution of the rules, or the interpretation of the rules, allow a certain way of racing, a driver like Max is always going to exploit it.

“I think now, there has been a new interpretation and execution of those regulations and I think it will change the way everybody races in the future. You won’t see that anymore.”

He continued: “I think back in the day certain stewards had their opinion that was on and because it wasn’t penalised it basically legitimised it. Fair enough to have a driver who utilised, who drives within the regs, and utilises all the margins that are given to him by a steward.”

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Norris, who closed the gap to Verstappen after finishing second in Mexico, was heard calling his rival "dangerous" over team radio. Stella has since given the driver his backing, indicating Norris has been vindicated for his own fair play.

"Our conversation and internal reviews have always been very clear - Lando, we like, we approve and confirm the way you go racing," . "It is not for you to go there and try to find justice yourself. You go racing in a fair, sporting way like you do and then there needs to be a third party - that is the stewarding that will say whether some manoeuvres are fair or not.

"Do not be desperate, you do not have to prove anything. You go racing fair and square. That is what we want from Lando, that is what Lando wants from himself and I think it is important though that the team confirms that is what we want from you."