Formula 1
Mercedes boss unsure what actions to take after Lewis Hamilton's tactics
Formula 1

Mercedes boss unsure what actions to take after Lewis Hamilton's tactics

Published Dec. 9, 2016 1:27 p.m. ET

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has made it clear that he wasn’t happy with Lewis Hamilton’s tactics in Abu Dhabi – but he admits that he still isn’t sure how the team will react to what happened in Sunday’s race.

Wolff said that the team had discussed in advance the possibility of Hamilton slowing down Nico Rosberg.

“We weren’t quite sure which direction he’d go,” said Wolff. “Whether he’d go flat out, or chose the other way, but we calculated it. As we let them race for the last three years without interference, I think the team deserves credit for that, not deciding to have a number one or a number two because that’s the easiest solution. It was clear that we would only interfere if our number one objective of winning the race was under threat.

“You can be philosophical about whether it’s a particular situation of a World Championship to be won or lost for a driver, you need to forget about those principles that have helped us these last three years, that has to be considered I think. But then on the other side, does that mean from before the start of the deciding race, or does it means from the beginning?

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“Because Melbourne could be the deciding race at the beginning of the season and we could say let them off the leash, full steam ahead, it’ll provide great entertainment, fantastic headlines like we did provided today but less race wins and maybe less championships. I have to have that discussion, because I’m just not sure yet.”

He admitted that he didn’t know what approach the team should take.

“I’m in two minds. Undermining a structure in public means you’re putting yourself before the team – that’s very simple. Anarchy doesn’t work in any team or any company. The other half says it was his only chance of winning the championship at that stage and maybe you cannot demand a racing driver, that is one or if not the best out there, a real guard dog in the car, to comply in a situation where his instincts did not make him comply. It’s about finding a solution to solve the problem in the future because a precedent has been set. Let me sleep over that and come up with a solution tomorrow.”

Wolff stressed that the team was the most important thing: “All throughout these last three years we’ve really tried to create an environment, and creating values in the team. One of the reasons is the individuals that are in charge of this team, and the drivers are very much part of it, and they bought into these values. You cannot invent a rule for every single situation. This is motor racing, it would make it the most boring sport ever if you would have corporate solution for every single situation.

“Today we saw a highly entertaining race, with lots of controversy to talk about, lots to write about it. Isn’t that at the end of the day what we want to achieve? The tricky bit here is what does it mean for the future of the team and how can we progress and not be over corporate and boring – but allow them to race. It wasn’t acknowledged that we have let them race over the last three years.

“We could have had a much smoother run and decided either you are going to win or you are going to win. This is how it happened in Red Bull and Ferrari many years ago, and maybe in other teams. I’m not sure we are in the credit-taking business, because it needs headlines, but we have coped quite well with that situation the last three years.”

Regarding the future he said: “We need to look at the overall situation and say what does it mean. Everything is possible, from let’s change the rules for next year because it doesn’t work in those critical races. Maybe we want to give them even more freedom in racing each other, and or we could go to the more harsh side that we feel the values were not respected. This is 180 degrees and I’m not sure yet where my finger is going to point – where the needle is going to go.”

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