Wolff on Canada controversy: I don't feel sorry for Vettel and Ferrari

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff admits that he does sympathise with Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari over the German receiving a five-second penalty during the Canadian Grand Prix, which cost him the win, but refuses to say that he feels “sorry” for them as it was within regulation guidelines.

Vettel took pole position in qualifying and led the GP from start to finish, even crossing the line first, but was demoted to second place after receiving the penalty for returning to the track in an “unsafe” manner ahead of Hamilton at Turn 4 after swaying off the tarmac.

The four-time world champion was furious at the decision from the stewards, and initially refused to take interviews or head to the podium, before eventually being convinced to do so.

He even switched the P1 and P2 markers around at the end of the race to symbolise himself as the true winner.

Wolff, however, hasn’t provided a shoulder to cry on.

“I don’t feel sorry,” he said.

“This is a no-prisoners sport. It can be the other way around, too. But I can understand their frustration when the result goes against him.”

The Mercedes boss insists that the punishment for Vettel is fitting if you look at the outlined regulations for such incidents.

“I think the penalty was what the rule says,” he continued.

“It was according to the rules, and the stewards are thinking according to the rules. If we’re not happy with the rules because we like harder racing, count me in.

“Then the stewards will take another decision because the rule will be a different one.

“So let’s look at the rules and see how we can get it right so we encourage hard racing, and then the verdict will be a different one.”

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 News Today: World champion censored by his own management, McLaren star gives up F1 dream

• 18 minutes ago

The 'aggressive' F1 rule changes abandoned at FIA meeting

• 20 minutes ago

Why are F1 cars even slower after FIA rule change?

• 1 hour ago

F1 team principal first to break silence over FIA rule changes

• 2 hours ago

The £10,000 precedent for Red Bull asking Max Verstappen to stick to F1

• 3 hours ago

Lando Norris censored by his own management in awkward interview

• Today 11:54