Toto Wolff Responds to Claims of Mercedes ‘Helping’ Racing Point F1

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff rejected reports of the team aiding Racing Point in designing its 2020 car. Wolff termed any insinuation of Mercedes helping the Silverstone outfit as, “total nonsense”.

Following the FIA’s verdict over the legality of the RP20, several teams voiced their concerns against Racing Point over its car. While the team escaped with a 15-point deduction £400,000 fine, the FIA didn’t find Racing Point in breach of technical regulations.

I will be defending our brand firmly: Mercedes’ Wolff

The brake ducts on the RP20 formed the crux of the protest. While Racing Point clarified that the ducts where created from photographs, its rivals rejected those claims. Now, Wolff has stepped in and ruled out any involvement from Mercedes in the matter at hand.

“Copying the car more than from photos is something we would know,” said Wolff. “That is why from my perspective, it is total nonsense to pursue that argument. I will be defending our brand firmly if somebody were to go down that route.”

The Austrian also downplayed suggestions of the Racing Point saga being a consequence of Mercedes having a target on its back. According to Wolff, F1 rivals are playing a “political game” off the track.

“I think Formula 1 has always been the competition on the track and also the competition off the track. As hard as we race each other on Sunday or on Saturday, we also fight the political game that is important, and has always been the case.

“The Racing Point case is an opportunity for your direct competitors to maybe push us hard and that has always been the case.

“We have a clear position on the Racing Point situation and in that respect it doesn’t really bother us, and it shouldn’t bother us, because the FIA have made that clarification.”

Despite several teams threatening to file an appeal against the FIA’s verdict, only Ferrari and Renault are pursuing the case. Unsurprisingly, Mercedes’ future customer team, McLaren, didn’t appeal in spite of team boss Zak Brown ridiculing Racing Point’s claims.

Racing Point will also appeal on their behalf in the ICA. The drama off track is unlikely to resolve anytime soon but the ultimate verdict could seal the fate for how customer teams interact with engine suppliers moving forward.