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Wolff happy with stewards': "Maybe that's enough deterrent"

10 December 2021 at 11:42
Last update 10 December 2021 at 12:01
  • GPblog.com

Toto Wolff hopes for a clean fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. The Austrian is pleased that Michael Masi and the stewards have made it clear what is and is not allowed in the battle for positions on the track.

Wolff received a lot of comments when he suggested last month that the fight for the world title in 2021 could possibly end in a (deliberate crash). "I got some criticism about how I could suggest such a thing," the Mercedes team boss said in front of Sky Sports cameras. He continued: "What we've seen in Brazil and Jeddah is controversial driving. I think it was good that it happened in Jeddah, and good that the race director came in robust to say what is on and what is not on."

Deterrent

The German team still believes that the time penalties imposed on Verstappen were justified. Wolff thinks it's good that a line is drawn in time. In a way, it might be good that incidents of such took place before this year's all but Grand Prix. "Maybe that is enough deterrent for all drivers, not only Max, to have a clean race."

Mercedes revealed after the first free practice that an engine change like the one in Brazil is out of the question. There are no plans to stick a new power unit to Lewis Hamilton's W12.