F1 must learn from "spectacular" Renault "relic of the past" - Toto Wolff

Formula 1

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F1 must learn from "spectacular" Renault "relic of the past" - Wolff

Fernando Alonso completed several demo laps in 2005 R25 in Abu Dhabi

Sam Hall

Wednesday 16 December 2020 05:00

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Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff believes Formula 1 must explore why the "spectacular" Renault R25 is so attractive compared to current cars.

This season's machinery are the fastest the sport has seen but the star car of the season-ending weekend in Abu Dhabi was a 15-year-old Renault.

The sound of the howling V10 engine distracted drivers from interviews, while mechanics from all 10 teams clung to the pit wall as Fernando Alonso screamed past.

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Explaining its attraction, Wolff said: “I think, first of all, the car, on one side, is a relic of the past when reducing CO2 emissions wasn’t on the cards and electric mobility didn’t exist.

"I think we just moved into a new era and that also means making compromises, but I agree that the car looked spectacular.

"It was very agile, very small, 150 kilograms lighter, a screaming engine and we can see that although the car was going four, five seconds slower than us [current cars], when you look at the TV pictures it seemed like it was going much faster.

“So there is something to learn. I believe that there is always something to learn."

In contrast to Alonso's demonstration runs, the Abu Dhabi GP itself proved to be a damp squib compared to the entertainment provided at other tracks, some new, others returning after years away.

"The number of messages I got during the race with the sleeping emoji was the most ever," added Wolff, who feels moves should be made to shake up circuits like Abu Dhabi that appeal on numerous fronts, with the exception of the racing.

“I don’t think anybody from Formula 1 regrets having had the car [the R25] out there because we need to analyse, now that we’ve seen it live, what is so attractive," said Wolff.

“Is it the audio-visual experience that makes it attractive? But then I saw the pictures without the sound and it still looked great so why is that? I think we need to analyse that.

"We are stakeholders in the sport and we need to improve everywhere but I think that all of us including F1 and the local guys, will look at it and say ‘What can we do?’ and sometimes you need a race like this to move and make the next step and develop it.

“I am sure that races here can be very exciting if we choose the right track layout and I wouldn’t want to miss Abu Dhabi from the calendar.

"It’s just a fantastic place and one of the best attractions for guests when we have hospitality here, and it’s adding to the calendar, it’s glamorous. We just need to give it more spectacular racing.”