'It Is Not Right': Mercedes Team Principal Reacts To Changes In Rules

Thursday, 02 November 2023 at 07:00

Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff recently shared his opinion on the rules that make drivers queue up at the end of the pit lane.

This year's change in rules dictates the maximum lap time for the drivers in Qualifying. Meaning, that F1 drivers have to complete a lap in a certain time once they cross the safety car line at the end of the pitlane.

Every driver wants to have a gap of around six seconds to the driver in front of them, so each time a car crosses the safety car line, the next driver has to wait six seconds before crossing the line as well.

This causes huge traffic jams at the end of the pit lane as every single driver wants to want to have the perfect window for themselves and lets others wait behind.

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff addressed this situation after the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix when he told the media he thinks FIA needs to sit down with the drivers:

"I think the FIA needs to sit down with the drivers and Sporting Directors and ask what is it exactly we want to achieve?"

The three-time World Champion Max Verstappen has been investigated for impeding other cars in the pitlane during his preparation for the lap. The Dutchman responded, calling the investigation "bulls**t".

In the end, there was no punishment for Verstappen. Other drivers like Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz said they also wait at the end of the pit lane, and all remaining drivers apparently do the same. Wolff added:

"In the end, fundamentally we don't want any impeding at all, we don't want anybody stuck in the pit lane. So how can we achieve that?"

F1 fans watching from home could observe the traffic jam at the end of the pit lane multiple times throughout the qualification in Mexico City. Wolff said, "it is not right".

"I understand it is better to be stationary in the pit lane than to block someone out there [on track] but it still looks awkward. It is not right because some people may not make the lap."