Formula 1 Mercedes launch
Wolff encouraged by "necessary" FIA changes after Abu Dhabi GP
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff feels “optimistic” about the changes made to the FIA’s Formula 1 race operations after its Abu Dhabi investigation, saying it was “necessary” to restructure.
Luke Smith
Edited: Feb 21, 2022, 9:05 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced a number of changes to how F1 races would be officiated on Thursday in the wake of the controversial end to last season's championship showdown between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Race director Michael Masi has been replaced by Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, while a new virtual race control room will support FIA officials. Herbie Blash, the long-serving number two to Charlie Whiting, also returns as a senior advisor.
Mercedes initially protested the race result in Abu Dhabi after seeing Hamilton lose the championship on the final lap restart. It ultimately dropped all action after the FIA confirmed its plans to investigate and reform.
Speaking at the launch of Mercedes' new 2022 car on Friday, Wolff said he thought the "right steps have been taken" and that he was "optimistic about the changes that have been implemented".
"Certainly the role of race director is not easy, and now we're having two very experienced guys up there, that is good," Wolff said.
"But the support structure that has been built around them is essential, not only in the race director's room, but also with a remote control room where the race directors can rely on feedback and inputs to make the decision-making process easier for them.
"I believe that the last couple of years, we have seen a little bit of freestyle in the interpretation of the regulations. So yes, I'm happy with what has been implemented by the incoming president."
Michael Masi, Race Director
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Wolff denied that Mercedes' decision to drop its appeal had been linked to Masi's exit, but he said the division that arose over some of race control's decisions last year showed the need for change.
"The restructuring within how decisions are being made in Formula 1, sporting decisions have been made, and also technical decisions, was necessary," Wolff said.
"Last year was a great season, but it created a lot of polarisation with decisions that were not always easy to understand."
Read Also:
- FIA removes Masi, announces new virtual F1 race control system
- Why Masi's departure from F1 was an inevitable call
Hamilton was known to be disillusioned with the FIA's decisions in Abu Dhabi following his defeat to Max Verstappen, and said on Friday that it was a "difficult time", prompting him to step away from the F1 world over the winter.
Wolff said the decisions in Abu Dhabi remained "a shock" and "unprecedented", but stressed the need to focus on the coming season as Hamilton goes in search of a record-breaking eighth world title.
"We have to move on from that," Wolff said.
"I think it's in the past, and with the measures that were announced yesterday by Mohammed, I think we need to put it aside.
"We are not going to forget it, because that's simply not possible. But we need to look into 2022 and, especially today launching the car, it should be the moment that we can really, with the steps that have been taken by the FIA, embark with encouragement into the season."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Hamilton has returned in ‘attack mode’, says Wolff
Next article Hamilton: FIA still need to do more to regain my trust
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Luke Smith
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
Formula 1
Formula 1
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Formula 1
Formula 1
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Formula 1
Formula 1
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Latest news
Kimi Antonelli reveals why he won’t take number 1 for the 2027 F1 season
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
5 min
Kimi Antonelli reveals why he won’t take number 1 for the 2027 F1 season
Who slept best last night: Kimi Antonelli
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
Who slept best last night: Kimi Antonelli
FIA reveals revised Junior WRC for 2027
WRC
WRC WRC 1 h
FIA reveals revised Junior WRC for 2027
How MotoGP teams and riders are organising themselves for their arrival in Qatar
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
1 h
How MotoGP teams and riders are organising themselves for their arrival in Qatar
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe