After his defensive action in Brazil, the FIA did not intervene against Max Verstappen, but Mercedes later protested after new images were released. That right of review was rejected, so the case is now settled.
Toto Wolff said earlier that he had not expected any punishment and that it had happened more on principle. In conversation with Sky Sports he explains further what he meant by that. He wants everything to be clear about what is and is not allowed, because otherwise, according to him, it could have led to far-reaching consequences.
“What we have now achieved is a public discussion about the situation. I see a risk that we would always have written arguments in those last races. In that case the title fight could just end up at the green table or in the court, if not everyone happy with the way it is racing.”
“We have also made that clear to some stakeholders. It could all have been resolved at this point, when the battle for the championship is still in full swing. Of course, nobody wants an outcome where there is no champion or that there is only heated discussion about it,” said the team boss.
–
Action Verstappen fine if you can
Wolff emphasizes that it is now clear that hard racing and defense is allowed. Now that that is clear, Mercedes will continue to race on exactly the same footing. “How the rules are is that you have to leave a car width if there is a car on the outside at the same height.”
“That was not the case,” emphasizes the Austrian. “That’s fine for us, because that’s racing hard, you see. But only if those are the rules. Then let’s just go ahead and race exactly like that. That’s what we’re going to do now.”
– .
