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Wolff confirms Mercedes blocked 2020 qualifying races

Published on 29 Oct 2019 13:09
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By: Dieter Rencken & Fergal Walsh

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has confirmed that Mercedes was one of two teams that blocked the introduction of qualifying races in 2020.

Formula 1 proposed a shake-up of the weekend format at three events next year to experiment with a different running order, however the decision didn't even get put to a vote when it became clear that unanimity, which was needed for the change to pass, would not be reached.

Wolff says that he decided to vote against the qualifying races as Mercedes wished to "preserve the DNA" of Formula 1.

"I did it because I think we have a responsibility in F1 to preserve what the core DNA is," he said. "It felt wrong not in order to preserve an advantage because maybe it would have been good for us because Ferrari would have been behind us regarding qualifying pace.

"But I voted against it because I feel that because in a 100m final at the Olympics you are not making Usain Bolt start five metres behind just to make it for an exciting finish."

Wolff praises Hamilton's stand-in engineer Dudley

Last time out in Mexico, Mercedes picked up the race win, as Lewis Hamilton drove to his tenth victory of the season.

MORE: Mercedes was 'not convinced' by one-stop strategy

However, the Briton had to do so without his usual race engineer Pete Bonnington, who was back in the UK for medical reasons - he will also be absent from this weekend's event in Austin.

Wolff hailed the work of Marcus Dudley, Hamilton's performance engineer who stepped into the role of 'Bono' for the weekend in Mexico.

"Phenomenal job, it's not easy managing Lewis in the race. But it shows that we have a deep strength in the team and Bono stepping to the side for one race, handing over the baton and Marcus did a really good job together with Dom [Riefstahl]."

Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172

The current qualifying format in F1 is one of the best events in motor sports and sports in general. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Reverse grid and qualifying races are just gimmicks that F1 doesn't need. 2 day events with more concerts and outreach kind of days on Fridays in the host cities w... [Read more]

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Oct 30 2019 - 00:10

F1 News Toto Wolff Mercedes

Replies (5)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
There was no need to confirm it, Wolff you con. We already knew it.
- + 0
- Oct 29 2019 - 20:58
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  Did you want qualifying races?
  + 0
  
  Oct 29 2019 - 21:06
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I'm actually not against them, now that they have a clearer concept for how they were supposed to run. Of course, they could be cumbersome, but one could run them some races and ye olde system the others. I just think Wolff is a big hypocrite who talked for this stuff only to block it later.
  + 0
  
  Nov 1 2019 - 17:56
Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172
The current qualifying format in F1 is one of the best events in motor sports and sports in general. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Reverse grid and qualifying races are just gimmicks that F1 doesn't need. 2 day events with more concerts and outreach kind of days on Fridays in the host cities would make the weekends less expensive and make the races more interesting, while engaging with the fans more.
- + 1
- Oct 30 2019 - 00:10
zorba

Posts: 1,655
I follow Toto, if they change the quallify, the teams and drivers will drive to have the 6 -7-8 time so they can start at front, whats the sureplus of the rule than.
- + 0
- Oct 30 2019 - 08:58