Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is happy that Formula 1 has not agreed to a plan for a reverse start order. That proposal to make races more exciting was rejected on Tuesday.
The plan was to start Grand Prix weekends on Saturday with a sprint race (which would earn World Championship points), with the starting order to be the World Cup reversed. The result of the sprint race would then again determine in reverse order the starting line-up of the main race on Sunday.
This should make Formula 1 more exciting. Mercedes, which has dominated the sport for six years, was reportedly the only team to vote against it. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner scornfully said last week that “only Toto is against the reverse starting order”.
“It seems to be a custom in Formula 1 to dig up old ideas, which have been extensively analyzed and subsequently rejected,” Wolff told Wednesday The Race. “Someone keeps coming back who thinks it’s a great idea and puts it back on the agenda.”
Wolff mentions three counter-arguments
Wolff mentioned three “fundamental reasons” for being against the reverse starting order. “First of all, the best man in the best car should win in Formula 1. We don’t need gimmicks to make the race more exciting.”
Second, I know of the touring cars that strategy can be decisive if the result of one race determines the starting grid of the next race. Suppose a driver does not drive very well, he can decide to drop out so that he can start at the front and win at the next race. “
“And thirdly, I think it is unfair to punish the fastest cars – and that doesn’t necessarily have to be Mercedes – for being the fastest. We know that margins are often very small in Formula 1, that’s why it’s very opportune to give an advantage to some teams that are a little slower. “
Formula 1 is open to changes in the future
Tuesday evening, Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey reported that the introduction of a reverse starting order or a short-term sprint race can only happen if all teams agree. Because Mercedes is against, the plan will in any case not be implemented this season.
“We remain open to changes in the design of our sport,” said Carey. “But we have to make sure we don’t make it a gimmick. Formula 1 has a long history with a lot of heroes and we have to keep that up to a certain level. That doesn’t mean we can’t watch certain changes . “
The Formula 1 season begins on July 5 in Austria, where the first two of eight European races will be held.
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