Wolff says Verstappen needs to lose "raw edges" to become world champion

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen needs to lose some of his "raw edges" to become a Formula One world champion, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has claimed.

Verstappen is being tipped by some for his first world championship next season, or at least challenge the ever-dominant Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull Racing are making the switch from Renault to Honda power units next season after ending a lengthy relationship with the French manufacturer.

Verstappen recently lost a likely win in Brazil to Hamilton, following a crash with Esteban Ocon, with the Force India driver trying to unlap himself.

"In Max, you can see there is a future world champion coming together," Wolff said following the race in Brazil, where his Mercedes team were crowned constructors' champions.

"Unbelievable talent and speed. And I think once the raw edges are off he will be somebody that would be a champion one day. In a few years, he would look at the (race) footage and maybe have his own opinion on whether that was the right behaviour or not. But you cannot accelerate these things. This is a learning process."

Wolff also revealed that Hamilton did not put up against a fight on Sunday against Verstappen, as the Mercedes team knew that Red Bull weren't the enemy in this race - as they fought with Ferrari.

"When Max appeared like a missile behind him it was clear that he wouldn't fight him unnecessarily to lose race time, but trying to make it to the end of the medium tyre," Wolff added. "So it is totally irrelevant from Mercedes' side who would have won. The objective was to stay in front of the Ferraris."