Mercedes Formula 1 chief Toto Wolff beli൩eves Max Verstappen needs to lose his "raw edges" if he is to become a world champion, feeling his incident with Esteban Ocon in Braziܫl was part of his learning process as a driver.

Red Bull driver Verstappen lost a potential victory last weeken♋d in Brazil after♒ contact with the lapped Esteban Ocon, resulting in an angry spat between the pair after the chequered flag.

Five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said he felt Verstappen could have handled the incident better on-track, with video footage from Ocon's car showing the Force In♐dia driver to be going considerably faster, reasoning his decision to try and unlap himself.

Speaking about the incident, Wolff said that while Verstappen had the right traits to become🍎 a world champion, he would need to work on perfecting certain areas to maximise his potential🎃.

"You can see there is a future champion coming together, 🎐unbelievable talent and speed," Wolff said.

"I think once the raw edges are off, he will be somebody who will be a world champion one da🌳y.

"In 𝐆a few years, he will look at the footage of [Brazil] and maybe have his own opinion as to whether that was the right behaviour or not.

"But you can’t ac🐓celerate those things. This is a learning process."

Red Bull F1 advisor Helmut Marko suggeste♛d after the race that Ocon may have deliberately made contact with Verstappen as🍰 he is a Mercedes junior driver, helping Hamilton take the win for Mercedes.

Wolff refused to be drawn on the matter, though, saying: "🅺This is how Dr. Marko sees the world, and I want to leave it with that. I don’t want to go on this level. We have a 🌟fifth world championship to celebrate."