Frustrated Toto Wolff Laments Lack of ‘Gentlemen’ in F1 as He Promises Mercedes Action in Future

After Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from the Brazilian GP because of the rear wing incident, Mercedes made an immediate response. It was both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas ‘outperforming’ everyone on separate ends of the grid. But the actual response came after the sprint, in form of a radio message by their Team Principal Toto Wolff.

“F*** them all, let’s go,” Wolff said.

It’s easy to mistake Wolff’s message simply as him feeling the excitement of a stellar drive from Lewis Hamilton. But Toto Wolff is pretty frustrated at the moment.

The Austrian described how earlier teams could examine and look at broken car components even in parc ferme conditions in a case of potential rules breach. But FIA refusing Mercedes to address Hamilton’s car at all has changed Wolff’s outlook on the current state of the sport.

“I think in a way there was a gentleman’s agreement if such a thing as a gentlemen’s agreement exists in F1 because there ain’t no gentlemen, but it doesn’t exist anymore,” Wolff said as reported by Autosport.

Toto Wolff promises strict vigilance on everyone in last few races

The Austrian mentioned how FIA allowed their rivals, Red Bull, to make repairs to their damaged wing in Mexico, but they didn’t get similar treatment in Brazil. Speaking of this stricter and unfair treatment by FIA Technical department on Mercedes, Toto Wolff refrained from calling out names of anyone who pressured or influenced FIA.

“I don’t want to pick out any individuals, because everybody tries to do the best possible job in their role, but something went against the modus operandi in these last 24 hours,” Wolff said.

“..if the modus operandi is different now, you maybe need to look at others also with a more strict eye and severe eye.”

So, Toto Wolff, who has lost faith in the gentlemen of Formula One, is determined to have an eagle eye. The Mercedes promises scrutiny on each and every potential chance on every car of every team in the last few races of the season.

“I can tell you that, in the next few races, we’re going to look at every single race part and race tape that’s going to fall off a car and ask questions.”

Also Read: Why Mercedes Changed Another One of Lewis Hamilton’s ICE F1 Engine Part at Interlagos