Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has spoken out in controversial radio discussions between the teams and FIA race director Michael Masi. Wolff wants the lobbying work and the negotiations on penalties of the teams to stop for good.
In an interview with Bild in Germany about the manifestation of incessant radio conversations between team bosses and the FIA race management, the Mercedes manager said:
“A meaningful sporting exchange should be possible. But lobbying and negotiations on sanctions must come to an end. Even if we were part of it. “
While the dust has settled over the 2021 campaign, one of the main topics of conversation was radio talks between the teams and the race director. This was seen during the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Both Toto Wolff and Christian Horner, his Red Bull counterpart, could be heard on the TV show trying to put pressure on Michael Masi at different stages of the race.
When a virtual safety car was used after Antonio Giovinazzi’s car had come to a controlled stop on lap 37, Wolff reported by radio and asked Masi not to use a full safety car, as this would disrupt the race between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
When the safety car was deployed after Nicholas Latifi’s shunt in turn 14 on lap 54, Horner took a page from Wolff’s book and asked why lapped cars were not allowed to lap between the two leaders.
At the restart you could hear Wolff Masi saying that he “had to restore the previous lap”, which is impossible according to the regulations.
When Verstappen stormed to the front of the race on the last lap, an angry Wolff complained incessantly to Masi.
Now the Austrian hopes that lobbying and fishing for penalties for opponents will only be left to the stewards.
The antics of Toto Wolff and Christian Horner could lead to an F1 radio ban
The actions of Toto Wolff and Christian Horner during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix have already asked people whether the direct radio link between teams and officials should be finally abolished.
Formula 1 Motorsport Managing Director Ross Brawn has already mentioned that what Toto Wolff and Christian Horner were trying to do was “unacceptable”. The outgoing FIA President Jean Todt also found the problem “regrettable”.
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The line of communication could be banned next season, but no official decision has been made yet.
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