Wolff bemoans inconsistent FIA decision-making as part of "a wider problem" in F1

Lewis Hamilton missed out on an eighth F1 title to Max Verstappen

Ian Parkes

Thursday 23 December 2021 05:00

Toto Wolff believes the decision making during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is part of "a wider problem" in F1 and was not simply a one-off bad call made by race director Michael Masi.

The decisions made during the closing stages of the season-ending race at the Yas Marina Circuit proved defining as Red Bull's Max Verstappen went on to claim a win and his first title after Lewis Hamilton had controlled the race.

Despite Mercedes' protests that were rejected by the stewards and a threat to appeal, the team ultimately opted not to go forward with pursuing the matter further.

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But what unfolded still left a bad taste in the mouth as Wolff and Hamilton both pulled out of attending the FIA prize-giving gala in Paris last Thursday.

Asked in a group interview session last week about Masi's call, Wolff said: “It is a wider problem.

"If you look at most of the controversies that have happened this year, it was about decisions, sporting decisions on the track. The inconsistency of the execution of the regulations on track.

“It is one thing to drive hard and to have differences of opinion among the drivers and the teams, it is in the nature of the game.

"But inconsistent decision making leads to controversies, leads to polarisation and that was the grounds for many of the totally unnecessary controversies on the track."

Wolff recalls contrary call

Wolff then highlighted a similar situation during last year's Eifel Grand Prix when a safety car restart was called after Lando Norris crashed his McLaren on lap 44 of the 60-lap race at the Nürburgring.

“How can it be that 14 months ago, at the Eifel Grand Prix, the explanation that was given was exactly the contrary to what happened [in Abu Dhabi]?" remarked Wolff.

"The explanation that was given, that the reason why the safety car was out there so long, was that all cars needed to unlap themselves, that this is following the sporting regulations.

“Fourteen months ago, not only was the decision taken in the totally opposite way, but an explanation is being made 180 degrees different to what happened.”