Wolff admits champion Mercedes pays a price for success

  • Published on 13 Oct 2014 11:08
  • comments 1
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Despite having the constructors' title already in the bag, Toto Wolff has admitted Mercedes is playing the role of "the bad guy" in F1 at present. That is because, amid the struggles of rival engine makers Ferrari and Renault in the face of Mercedes' utter dominance, the German marque is refusing to agree to 'unfreeze' aspects of the strict engine homologation rules for 2015.

It meant that Mercedes' constructors' title celebrations on Sunday were marred not only by the Jules Bianchi tragedy, but suggestions the team is playing a spoiler role in the political sphere. Boss Wolff is quoted by Speed Week: "We do not want to talk about the gap to our opponents or politics today."

"But this whole discussion about the freezing of engine development and so on -- it's not quite the way it is presented. Already next year everyone can change about 50 per cent of the engine. And our advantage is not only the engine, we also have a very good chassis. That we are suddenly the bad guys because we adhere to the rules is not pretty, but that's the price we must pay for our success," Wolff added.

Changing the subject, Wolff did not forget to mention the contribution that other key figures played in Mercedes' overwhelming 2014 success -- notably the retired Ross Brawn. "Ross has been so fundamental to the team. This is his trophy too," he said.

All eyes will now turn to the head-to-head battle for the drivers' crown between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, as Daniel Ricciardo's slim hopes for Red Bull faded even more in Russia. With his fourth win on the trot, Hamilton extended his lead over Rosberg to 17 points with Austin, Brazil and the double points Abu Dhabi finale left to run.

"Mathematically," former F1 driver Patrick Tambay told France's RMC, "I think the title will not be decided until the last race. But sportingly and psychologically, Lewis Hamilton has the upper hand. He is 17 points ahead, but it's not enough yet."

Tambay also saved a word for Williams' Valtteri Bottas, who is causing the third-placed Ricciardo to take his focus off the leading Mercedes and begin to look in his rear mirror. "He (Bottas) is very strong," he said, "and always gaining momentum in the Williams team. He is beginning to dominate his teammate Felipe Massa -- maybe he'll even take third place in the world championship from Daniel Ricciardo," Tambay added. (GMM)

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • scf1fan

    Posts: 58

    Thank you T.Wolff for mentioning R.Brawn's contribution. I thought he got a bit of the raw end of the deal with MB.

    • + 0
    • Oct 15 2014 - 05:46

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Sauber
  • Points 1,608
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 188
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Nastola, FI
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar