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sport">During the extremely exciting Formula 1 season of 2021, everything was pulled out, by both the drivers and the team bosses. For the first time, fans could also listen in on the radio traffic between the team bosses and the race management and that resulted in a few memorable moments to say the least.
sport">It gave an insight into how race director Masi is being pressured by the team bosses. For example, there was the memorable moment during the British GP in which Horner asks Masi to react ‘appropriately’ after the incident between Hamilton and Verstappen on the opening lap.
Hand in your own bosom
sport">The radio messages from a furious Wolff during the safety car procedure in Abu Dhabi are of course still fresh in the memory and the Austrian indicates that he and Horner may have gone a bit too far last year. “I have to put my hand into my own bosom, and Christian’s,” Wolff says to Motorsport.com.
sport">He continues: „We had the opportunity to speak directly with the race director and because we are fighting so fiercely for the interests of our teams, we have all crossed the line. This was certainly part of the failures this year that, partly under pressure from the team bosses, didn’t make the race director’s life any easier, certainly not. So we have to come back to this.”
Not directly with race director anymore
sport">Normally it is the sports directors of the teams who are in contact with Masi and not the team bosses. Wolff therefore believes that they should still be given the opportunity to be in contact with race management, but not to negotiate. But to point out to them something they may have overlooked.
sport">“I don’t think the team boss should speak directly to the race director,” said Wolff. “It should be the sports directors.”
Criticism Brawn
sport">Wolff even wants to go a step further. “I don’t think the sports director should lobby or pressure the race director. I think they should point out situations that the race director or his colleagues may not have noticed, but don’t lobby. Don’t put pressure.”
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Toto Wolff is friendly with Christian Horner
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sport">Wolff’s reaction is also because Ross Brawn hinted last week that the communication between the teams and the race management would no longer be made public.
gone too far
sport">“I agree with Ross, but I also blame Ross and myself for being part of the decision-making process to broadcast more of the channels with transparency and fan entertainment in mind,” said Wolff.
sport">The Mercedes team boss continues with his story: “There is so much going on on the intercom that the fans get a bit of an overview of all the little dramas that happen. Will the car break? Are we having some kind of strategy discussion?”
sport">“It was well-intentioned, but I think we’ve gone too far.”
sport">Also listen to the very latest Formule 1-podcastof this season in which former driver Christijan Albers and Telegraaf reporter Erik van Haren recover from the race in Abu Dhabi:
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