Max Verstappen has won the F1 world championship thrice since 2021.

Max Verstappen, the man, the myth, the legend! The Dutchman has been performing at a supreme level since the dawn of the current regulations and at the recently concluded event in Japan, he once again brought out his absolute A-game!

After kicking off the 53-lap Grand Prix from pole, Max Verstappen went from strength to strength during the race and in the end, won the event by a margin of over 12 seconds. Seeing the Dutchman’s heroics, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff has wholeheartedly acknowledged his might!

Toto Wolff genuinely feels that Verstappen is one of the best drivers to ever step foot into F1.

No one is going to catch Max this year. His driving and the car are just spectacular. You can see the way he manages the tyres and basically this season now is best of the rest. That's the fight that's on. Hopefully, we can catch up to the McLarens and Ferraris and fight for P2. This is what it is this year and what it was last year, and we had a P2 last year.

Toto Wolff said in an interview with racingnews365

Verstappen won an incredible 19 Grand Prix during the 2023 season out of the possible 22. He was in a league of his own and that’s exactly what he has done so far during the ongoing 2024 season. Four races are done and dusted and the 26-year-old has won three of them.

Toto Wolff believes Mercedes is in a ‘no man’s land’

While Toto Wolff has left no stone unturned in acknowledging the might of Max Verstappen, he has also taken the time to dwell on the woes of Mercedes. Being the one running the show, Wolff understands that his team is in dire need of major improvements.

Mercedes is currently fourth in the 2024 Constructors Championship with 34 points in its name!

If your expectation is to eventually race for wins and championships then you can say we are in a bit of a no man's land because Max and Red Bull are far ahead, and we are in this bunch. It is not satisfying for any team to be fighting for P2, P3 or P4.

Toto Wolff said in the same interview

The Brackley-based team last won the Constructors Championship in 2021. Under the current set of regulations, the outfit has had an immense struggle, and considering this, the upcoming races could also prove extremely painful for the once-world-beaters in F1.