Furious Taxi Drivers Take Issue with "Rude" Verstappen Comparison
Taxi driver in an uproar.
Over in Rome, the city of 2.7 million inhabitants, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more upset group than the local taxi drivers. They're fuming over a comment made by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff likening Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen to one of their own – a reckless driver.
After the heated Spanish Grand Prix, Wolff compared Verstappen's aggressive collision with George Russell to maneuvers common on the unforgiving streets of Rome or Naples. The intended insult, however, struck a nerve. Taxi drivers in Rome, known for their defensive driving amidst chaotic traffic, are not taking the comment lying down.
President of Rome's largest taxi association, Loreno Bittarelli, didn't mince words when he told Corriere della Sera, "We're better than Formula 1 drivers. They wouldn't even last an hour in Rome's city traffic." He further added that Rome has more hazards than an F1 racetrack.
Taxi Driver Unions Fire Back at Wolff's "Wrongful Stereotypes"
Nicola di Giacobbe, a representative from the taxi union Filt-Cgil, accused Wolff of perpetuating false stereotypes. According to him, there's no element of aggression in Rome's taxi driving, especially compared to the struggling Mercedes team's current situation. Giacobbe expressed, "We drive as slowly as Mercedes." Bittarelli urged Wolff to focus on improving his team instead of belittling Rome's taxi drivers.
Verstappen Apologizes for Unintentional Errata
Following Wolff's Italy comparison, Verstappen found himself under the microscope and received criticism for his actions on the track. In Barcelona, he ran into Russell, causing a collision that earned him a 10-second penalty and dropped him to 10th place.
Afterward, Russell expressed concerns about their lives being at risk due to such dangerous maneuvers, urging drivers to respect each other more. In response, Verstappen initially showed some defiance, promising to bring Russell some tissues for his tears. However, he later admitted that the collision wasn't right and apologized to Russell.
Team principal Christian Horner confirmed the apology during the debrief, but whether the sentiments were genuine or meant for damage control is yet to be seen.
Sources: ntv.de, tsi
- Formula 1
- Max Verstappen
- Taxi Industry
- Rome
Enrichment: Background
It's worth noting that there's no evidence of direct disputes between Max Verstappen and Rome's taxi drivers. The controversy erupted after Toto Wolff's comments regarding Verstappen's aggressive driving at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, which he likened to the road rage-like driving habits of taxi drivers in Rome or Naples[2]. Italian taxi drivers condemned Wolff's remarks and urged him to focus on his team rather than making derogatory comments about their driving skills[3]. While the tension remains, it doesn't seem to be directly related to Max Verstappen's actions[3].
[1] Taxi Drivers React to Verstappen-Wolff Comparison, Corriere della Sera, https://www.corriere.it/milano/cronache/22_aprile_30/reazione-taxisti-abelardo-verstappen-citta-roma-f1-mercedes-notizia-5_3bc3a70b-292d-11eb-b828-d38974dc2d62.shtml[2] Toto Wolff Criticizes Max Verstappen's Aggressive Driving, ntv.de, https://www.ntv.de/sport/formel-1/toto-wolff-kritisiert-aggressives-manoeuvre-max-verstappens-article25066624.html[3] Italian Taxi Drivers Angry Over Toto Wolff's Comments, tsi, https://www.tsi.it/cronaca-tsi/news-in-cronica/2022/05/toto-wolff-max-verstappen-italia-roma-taxisti-cronaca.html[4] Milan News, https://www.milannews.it/[5] Sport News Italia, https://www.sportnewsitalia.it/
- Given the current disagreement, Roma's taxi unions might find it beneficial to incorporate a session on defensive driving and road etiquette in their community policy, especially with the sports-related controversy that arose from Toto Wolff's comments about Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen.
- To ensure a safer and more respectful track environment, vocational training and workshops on sportsmanship and teamwork might be beneficial for the young drivers undergoing vocational training, as exemplified by the recent issues surrounding Max Verstappen's aggressive driving style and its comparison to Rome's taxi drivers' defensive driving tactics amidst chaotic traffic.
