06/04/2014
NEWS STORY
Mercedes Motorsport boss Toto Wolff has dismissed talk of changes to the sport's new formula, hitting out at those talking the sport down.
It started with the noise - or lack of it - however, after just two races numerous other aspects of the new regulations have come in for criticism from fans, drivers, team bosses and the men (and women) who design the cars.
On the one hand are those who feel that change is needed, especially change that reflects the environmental concerns of the 21st century. On the other are those that feel that the 2014 changes are a step too far and that Formula One can never really be 'environmentally friendly'.
While some feel that the new rules are improving the spectacle, forcing drivers to work harder, others point to the increasing need for drivers to conserve various elements of their cars.
It just so happens that some of those making the loudest noises about the new regulations and how much they are damaging the sport are with teams currently struggling, while those teams that have successfully adapted to them appear quite content.
Having met with Bernie Ecclestone earlier in the week, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is to meet with the F1 supremo and FIA president Jean Todt ahead of today's race. Even before the season had begun the Italian was critical of the rules, claiming they would lead to "taxi cab driving", and, facing the prospect of another disappointing season, his opinion hasn't changed.
While Ferrari, arguably the most famous name in F1, has obvious clout, with numerous vetoes over the sport and how it is run, there is unease between some of the other teams and manufacturers not only in relation to the fact that they haven't been invited to the pow-wow but that the rules could be modified to suit the Italian team under the guise of appeasing the fans. Indeed, by a strange coincidence - if you believe in such things in F1 - on the same day Montezemolo met with Ecclestone in London his team issued the results of a fan survey on its site in which 83% of those who took part said they are "disappointed" with the 2014 version of F1.
Ahead of today’s meeting Wolff dismissed talk of changes to the rules, claiming that the sport should be proud of the way it has adapted to them and the eventual benefit they could bring.
"We are eight-tenths off the pole from last year with a car that is twenty-five percent down on downforce, with much harder tires, with thirty percent less fuel consumption, is heavier, with more power and more torque and greater straight-line speed," he told reporters following yesterday's qualifying session which saw his drivers fill the front row for today's race.
"So what are we talking about? We are in a brilliant technical revolution and we are talking the sport down," he continued. "Is it because we have an agenda? Somehow I don't get it.
"The rules are the rules, and were implemented a long time ago and if you want to change them then you can do this for next year. But I don't see that happening," he said. "Apparently some engine manufacturers, or teams, are saying 'we haven't managed to make the car efficient and fast with 100 kilograms of fuel, so let's add 10 kg. Sorry, we didn't do our job in the way we should have done'. I find this whole discussion absurd."
"The reason why we are in this sport is because we believe Formula One is a mega sport platform," he continued, "it's the way we want to promote our brand, an efficient, high-tech brand. Would we want to talk our sport down? It's like saying that our cars are not good."
His frustration obvious, Wolff also took the opportunity to deny talk of his drivers conserving fuel in Malaysia.
"All the cars were flat out," he said. "We finished with some margin on fuel. There is no holding back. There is no fuel-saving mode, there is no taxi driving," he added, a reference to Montezemolo's pre-season barb.
"So we have to understand what the fans don't like," he concluded. "Is it the noise? then we have to address the noise. Is it because the races have become boring by a car or a team dominating? Maybe we've had that phenomenon in the last 20 years."
Chris Balfe