Wolff to make tough Mercedes call if Turkish GP given green light

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff faces a tough call with his Mercedes staff should F1 give the Turkish Grand Prix the green light.

The sport is currently weighing up whether to return to Istanbul for the June 11-13 race after it was last week placed on the UK Government's red-list of countries to avoid due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

At present, all those who have visited Turkey and wish to return to the UK would have to quarantine for a period of 10 days in a designated hotel. The only other alternative is remaining on the road before heading to France for the following race.

With neither option particularly favourable, there is a high possibility the race that replaced the cancelled Candian GP could also be axed.

It is understood possible alternatives as host include the Nürburgring and Mugello, venues that featured on last year's calendar.

Addressing the situation, Wolff said: "First of all, it is clearly not enjoyable to be quarantined for two weeks in a hotel anywhere in the world.

"Stefano [F1 CEO Domenicali] is going to look at how to organise ourselves and only when we have a more clear picture can we then decide who stays on the road and who stays home."

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has already voiced his opposition to the race going ahead if it means there is a major impact on his staff.

"Everything is possible but there is a limit of what you can ask people to do," said Steiner. "We have to be respectful because we cannot have people not going home for six weeks. That is not fair."

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