“No, no Michael, this is not right!” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff via a direct line to race director Michael Masi. Those words sounded a mixture of anger and despair. Looking back on that moment and perhaps several times when he and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner messaged Masi, he is not proud of that.
“I have to scold myself, as did Christian. We were given the opportunity to speak directly to the race director, but because we compete so fiercely to represent the interests of our teams, we have gone too far.” this is how Wolff writes in front of, among others RacingNews365.
“The fact that the race director’s life has not become easier under pressure from the team bosses was part of this year’s mistakes,” continues Wolff, who agrees with the previous reading of the Formula 1 sporting director. Ross Brown. After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he indicated that he intended to immediately restrict radio traffic between teams and the race director.
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Wolff wants to silence team bosses
“I agree with Ross. We were both involved in the decision to have more of these kinds of radio messages heard for the sake of a more transparent and fun sport. There is so much going on over the radio and it gives fans an insight into all drama, for example if a car threatens to break down.”
“Those kinds of things, as well as openly releasing strategy discussions, for example, were well-intentioned, but we missed the mark in this one.”
“We must therefore reconsider that decision. Team bosses should not be able to speak directly with the race director, that should be done by the sporting directors, although I want to go a step further by stating that they should not be allowed to lobby with or should be allowed to put pressure on the race director. They should bring things up, but not lobby or pressure.”
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