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Formula 1/Max Verstappen/Toto Wolff

Verstappen heard no boos at F1 75, Wolff believes ‘there wasn’t any at Max’ · RaceFans

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Max Verstappen dismissed questions over the hostile reception he appeared to receive during Formula 1’s official pre-season launch event, saying he heard no boos from the crowd.

He made the comments a day after his Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who was audibly jeered at, said it was “disappointing” some in the crowd had booed his driver.

“There was any booing?” Verstappen asked when the subject was raised during today’s FIA press conference. “Maybe I’m deaf.”

Verstappen was asked about comments made by his father, former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen, who suggested his son would boycott future events in Britain due to the reception he received in London last week.

“I don’t need to really talk about it,” he replied. “It’s not worth my time.”

However Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes Horner, not Verstappen, was the real target of the crowd’s displeasure.

“We were all surprised by the amount of booing that happened, particularly to one individual,” said Wolff.

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“There wasn’t any booing, really, on Max. Them coming in was a consequence of what happened before.

Christian Horner, Red Bull, F1 75, 2025
The booing of Horner was a ‘bad surprise’, said Wolff

“But that was big and bad and came as a surprise to everyone. I mean, it’s his home turf and still Christian got these boos. Boos shouldn’t be in the sport, but in my opinion, that wasn’t directed to Max.”

Williams team principal James Vowles echoed Wolff’s words. “I don’t think there’s a place for booing,” he said.

“We were going there to effectively represent our sport that we’re passionate about and we need to remember that it’s trying to give back to the world. It’s not a ‘hero or evil’-type environment.”

The FIA condemned what it described as “tribalistic” booing of Verstappen and Horner during the event. The sport’s governing body was also booed by some in the crowd at F1 75.

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Formula 1/Max Verstappen/Red Bull/Toto Wolff

Wolff defends F1 75 livery launch format after FIA’s concern over boos for Red Bull · RaceFans

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has defended Formula 1’s new pre-season livery launch event after the FIA raised concerns over booing at the event.

The sport’s governing body condemned what it described as “tribalist” booing directed at world champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner during F1 75 last week. The FIA did not refer to the boos which greeted a mention of the federation’s name.

Wolff, who has a long-running rivalry with Horner, laughed off suggestions he joined those who jeered at the Red Bull team boss. “No, I wasn’t booing,” he told Sky. “There was 15,000 people that did that. It wasn’t necessary that I did.”

However he questioned whether Verstappen actually had been booed by the crowd at the O2 arena in London. “I don’t think that Max was booed,” he said, “and we shouldn’t talk an event down that was mega just because one single individual, rightly or wrongly, was booed when he spoke.”

F1 75 was the first time Formula 1 has held a joint livery launch event for its teams. Wolff says they should repeat the spectacle in future seasons.

“It was a great event,” he said. “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.”

Mercedes are due to run their new W16 chassis for the first time at the Bahrain International Circuit today. After his team fell to fourth in the championship last year, Wolff is hopeful Mercedes will close the gap to their rivals this season.

“Maybe there’s more of us this year that can win races. Four of us won [four or more] races, so I hope we can continue a season like this, as competitive and exciting.”

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Culture/Formula 1

The new Mercedes x Adidas F1 collection is surprisingly stylish

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A new Mercedes-AMG era began yesterday, though it had little do with who’s driving which car. In the German town of Herzogenaurach, the team’s first Adidas collaboration was unveiled in a blowout global showcase. The sportswear giant replaced Mercedes’ longtime outfitter, Tommy Hilfiger, as the provider of a new kit for all members of the team —  itself part of a 150-piece debut collection of team merch that goes beyond pit wall uniforms.

The team kit hits the basics, ranging from fluorescent shirts to functional pants, all fairly straightforward and sponsor-logo heavy. More interesting are the “lifestyle” pieces that show Adidas’ fashion chops: there are earth tones and mint highlights (instead of the team’s bright teal), cropped tees and baggier fits, and some relatively subtle Mercedes logos.

One beige puffer vest looks like something Russell would wear aprés ski — though the biggest hit at the showcase was a cropped windbreaker-style jacket, which enters rarified air as one of the few stylish pieces of merch designed for female fans. (Adidas reps pointed out that women account for almost half of all F1 viewers, and said the brand has plans to roll out more pieces with female fans in mind throughout 2025. Here’s hoping they’re equally as good as the jacket.)

Mercedes-AMG x Adidas Premium Woven Fleece Top

Mercedes-AMG x Adidas Premium Woven Fleece Top

Mercedes-AMG x Adidas Premium Sweat Vest

Mercedes-AMG x Adidas Premium Sweat Vest

Mercedes-AMG x Adidas Team Jacket

Mercedes-AMG x Adidas Team Jacket

George Russell, who’s been avidly flexing in Adidas gear on Instagram since the new year, nodded to NFL legend Deion Sander’s famous line about style and performance.

“If you look good, you drive a couple of tenths faster, so that’s going to help us,” he joked while discussing the new partnership. Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden chimed in, “I think rebuilding your engine is more important,” while Toto Wolff added, “George requested a little mirror in the front [of his car].”

Russell was also joined by 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli and Valtteri Bottas, who returns to the Silver Arrows as a reserve driver. “Putting this shirt back on… for the first time in many years gave me goosebumps,” Bottas said.

Of course, the deal coincides with another fairly big change at Mercedes-AMG, with seven-time world champion (and F1’s foremost fashion model) Lewis Hamilton departing for Ferrari. His memory remains fresh in everyone’s minds. “When Lewis found out [about the Adidas deal] he said, ‘I can’t believe it,’” Wolff said, also noting, “everybody on the team was so excited.”

Wolff also explained the partnership isn’t just about making the drivers look good for paddock walks and workout Instagrams: “The mechanics will have performance clothing tailored to them, which is something that has never been done before.“

The new Mercedes-AMG x Adidas collection is available now at adidas.com and mercedesamg.com.

In this article

Emily Selleck

Formula 1

Culture

Toto Wolff

Valtteri Bottas

George Russell

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Mercedes

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