The Formula 1 world has been thrown into turmoil after former world champion Nico Rosberg launched a harsh attack on Max Verstappen. According to Rosberg, the Dutchman’s four world titles are not solely due to his talent and perseverance, but mainly to luck and alleged favoritism by the FIA. The comments came as a bombshell, especially since Rosberg himself knows how tough the battle for a championship can be.

Rosberg noted in an interview that Verstappen “had the right decisions from the race stewards at the right times” and that without those circumstances, his path to four world titles would have been much more difficult. According to him, other drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, would have had a better chance on a level playing field. “I’m not denying his speed,” Rosberg emphasized, “but we have to be honest: luck and politics played a role.”

Max Verstappen’s reaction, however, was not long in coming. The four-time world champion, known for his cool and direct communication, needed just five cold words to silence Rosberg. Insiders revealed that his brief response created an icy silence and immediately silenced the criticism. While the exact words weren’t caught by everyone, the message was crystal clear: Verstappen won’t be thrown off balance by the criticism of a former driver.

What’s remarkable is that Verstappen has become known for his consistent dominance in recent seasons. With Red Bull, he’s dominated not just races, but entire championships. Four consecutive world titles are the result of a combination of exceptional talent, a technically superior car, and an uncompromising mentality on the track. Critics also point out that Rosberg himself only managed to win one title, and that with one of the strongest Mercedes cars in history.

Fans reacted strongly on social media. A large portion of Verstappen’s supporters found Rosberg’s remarks “envious” and “inappropriate.” They argued that it’s impossible to become world champion four years in a row without consistently achieving top performances. Others pointed out that Rosberg, since retiring from the sport, has been sharing more sharp and sometimes provocative opinions to stay relevant in the media.

Nevertheless, Rosberg’s words have sparked a debate about the role of the FIA ​​and the influence of race control decisions on championships. This has remained a sensitive topic since the controversial 2021 finale in Abu Dhabi. Proponents of Rosberg’s view argue that such factors always play a role in a sport where rules and interpretations are often applied with the utmost rigor.

Despite the commotion, Verstappen himself seems unfazed. His five words were enough to make it clear that he won’t be distracted by outside opinions. For the four-time world champion, only one thing matters: keep winning. And with Red Bull’s current form, it seems likely that even more titles will be added to his palmares in the coming years.