Overview

• Toto Wolff likened Max Verstappen’s collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix to “road rage” from taxi drivers in Rome and Naples.
• Loreno Bittarelli of Cooperativa Radiotaxi3570 defended local cabbies, arguing they outperform F1 drivers in Rome’s congested streets.
• Taxi union Filt-Cgil seized on Wolff’s remark to mock Mercedes’ current form, quipping that Rome’s taxis “drive as slowly as Mercedes.”
• Verstappen was penalized to 10th place for the Barcelona incident and has privately acknowledged his fault to Red Bull team officials.
• Roman taxi associations have maintained their stance without indicating any planned apology or engagement with Mercedes to resolve the row.