News Summary
- Toto Wolff backed Formula 1 and the FIA’s approach to assessing whether the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix can go ahead.
- The Mercedes team principal questioned MotoGP riders’ comments on the geopolitical situation but backed their right to decide whether to travel.
- Wolff said the issue had yet to be raised internally at Mercedes and that he would respect an employee’s decision to stay home.
Toto Wolff criticised MotoGP riders who spoke out about the situation in the Gulf and backed Formula 1’s approach to its final two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The Mercedes team principal addressed the issue at Friday’s São Paulo Grand Prix press conference, attended by GRANDE PRÊMIO at Interlagos.
The question came as MotoGP went ahead with its Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail. Several riders had raised safety concerns, Yamaha withdrew its factory and Pramac teams, and the circuit issued emergency shelter guidance to the paddock.
Asked what F1 could learn from MotoGP’s experience, Wolff began with the guidance available to Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“Stefano and Mohammed have been quite clear about the situation. F1 follows international guidelines, taking into account any travel restrictions, airlines stopping flights, any warnings in the region and the kind of guidance issued by local governments. So it’s a matter of what the promoters say and what local governments advise. In my opinion, that’s what we need to base our decisions on. I fully agree with that approach,” Wolff said.
Wolff criticises riders’ comments and backs their freedom to choose
Marc Márquez had spoken openly about his discomfort with racing in Qatar before taking to the track. Yamaha’s withdrawal kept Fabio Quartararo, Álex Rins, Jack Miller and Augusto Fernández out of the weekend.
Wolff took issue with riders speaking about geopolitics and addressed how he would have handled the decision to race.
“I think that when riders speak out on geopolitical issues, even though they know practically nothing about what’s going on, they have an audience that listens to them, and that generates media coverage. But I would have done the same thing MotoGP management did. If you want to race, go. If you don’t want to, don’t go. It’s as simple as that. Everyone can make their own decision, and I respect that,” he continued.
For Formula 1, preparations for the final two rounds were already under way. Teams had begun moving equipment towards the Gulf and were considering how to get personnel out if they needed to leave the region.
“Of course, we need to pay attention to what happens over the next few days and weeks. Stefano is following everything closely to monitor the situation. If things get more dangerous and we receive that kind of information, he’ll be the first, together with Mohammed, to protect the people who were due to travel. So I’m following their guidance, based on what I’ve been hearing,” Wolff said.
What happens if a Mercedes employee decides to stay home?
The question at Interlagos also covered whether team members had started raising concerns about travelling. Wolff addressed what had happened inside Mercedes and how he would respond if someone chose to stay home.
“Internally, the subject hasn’t been raised or discussed. But in this case too, if someone doesn’t feel comfortable travelling, whether they’re a man or a woman, that’s a decision I would always respect. Maybe that’s even an opportunity to give someone else a chance. It wouldn’t change anything in our relationship. I’ve always respected people who didn’t want to go to certain Grands Prix, and that’s how I see the situation right now,” he concluded.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the São Paulo Grand Prix in Formula 1 live from Interlagos.
