Wolff gives SHOCK F1 teams revelation amid Hamilton DQ
Wolff gives SHOCK F1 teams revelation amid Hamilton DQ
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has stated that multiple other teams had illegal cars during the United States Grand Prix that saw Lewis Hamilton be disqualified for excessive wear to his skid block.
The fight for victory in Austin between Hamilton and Max Verstappen was perhaps the closest that Mercedes have come to winning in the 2023 season. The final stage of the race saw the seven-time world champion rapidly closing in on his Dutch rival, however Hamilton did not have enough laps to complete the charge.
Afterwards, the stewards scrutineering his W14 concluded that his car did not conform to the regulations. The Mercedes’ skid block had been worn down by the abrasion of the car running over the kerbs throughout the race. Along with Hamilton, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also was disqualified, leading to questions over the legality of the rest of the field’s cars.
One figure to claim that other teams avoided punishment despite suffering the same issue was Mercedes boss Wolff. Speaking in Mexico City a week later, he stated that through conversations with other members of the paddock, there was reason to believe it was not an isolated incident.
“Yeah that’s the feedback we got from other teams,” Wolff said. “Obviously they are chatting with each other, the drivers and also on a management level, I think many, many teams were probably under the nine mil.
“[The update] played a part because we got more downforce, and that’s the positive, and we were smashing the car on the bumps a bit more.
Wolff was also asked why this happened in Austin and whether it was a problem that may reoccur during the rest of the campaign.
“Absolutely specific (to COTA) and also because of the sprint race weekend so we were more cautious now, now that we have the data and probably can adjust a little bit.”
READ MORE: Hamilton and Verstappen reveal true feelings on Mexican Grand Prix crowd
Wolff happy to run the risk
Remarkably, Wolff was less upset about the reality of the disqualification than the reasoning for it. Speaking of the exciting battle for victory in Austin, Wolff stated that he’d rather see his drivers lose out in pursuit of the win than settle for third place.
“I would take the same risk and I would also take the disqualification because we got it wrong. I think taking a disqualification whilst running for a race win and seeing the performance against running P3 and taking 25 second adrift, so every day of the week, I’ll go for the disqualification.”
READ MORE: Red Bull to replace driver at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Will F1 hopeful Antonelli replace Sargeant from Imola?
- 36 minutes ago
F1 News Today: Hamilton dealt major Newey blow as Red Bull chief makes BRUTAL admission
- 1 hour ago
Schumacher reveals how Mercedes could snare Verstappen
- 1 hour ago
Red Bull chief in BRUTAL putdown of key F1 feature
- 2 hours ago
Cullen relationship blossoms with new star after moving on from Hamilton
- 3 hours ago
Hamilton dealt major Newey blow as shock COMPLICATION revealed
- Today 08:58
Related news
Ferrari driver confirms he won't be in F1 for 2024
Perez's father makes huge Red Bull claim after Mexican GP
Wolff praises Hamilton for 'best performance' in Mexico
Sainz explains key F1 factor which makes Mercedes faster than Ferrari
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860