Wolff counters Hamilton stewards' "bias" claim

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has dismissed suggestions of "conscious bias" from the F1 stewards last year.

Lewis Hamilton missed out on a record-breaking eighth drivers' title on the last lap of last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix following a controversial safety car restart.

The sequence of events ultimately led to race director Michael Masi being removed from his position.

On Wednesday, Hamilton turned his attention to the race stewards and stated his belief that "some" are too friendly with drivers and that F1 needs officials with "no bias".

These comments drew a swift response from the FIA with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner also dismissing the notion.

“I think we need professionalism in the stewards’ room. I don’t think there is a conscious bias, to be honest," said Wolff.

"It’s intelligent people but most important is whether we talk about the race direction, the support that they will have back at base or the stewards, there needs to be a standard.

“This is what we deserve and what everybody expects and I think there is some very good people that we can build upon."

The 2021 season saw a number of controversial moments with teams throughout the paddock complaining of inconsistencies in the decision making process.

“Most important, and we all have talked about it last year, was the topic of inconsistency and there shouldn’t be a lot of room to interpret the rules," added Wolff.

“There shouldn’t be a lot of leniency depending on what a potential outcome might be.

“The rules are the rules and, I think, as everything is being restructured, I have faith in [FIA president] Mohammed [Ben Sulayem] that going forward we will optimise all of these structures.”

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