Mercedes workforce boss Toto Wolff says he has no want to speak to the FIA’s race director Michael Masi, saying his values and sense of integrity usually are not “appropriate” with the choices taken by Masi on the title deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Masi’s function in Max Verstappen’s championship victory over Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is on the centre of one of many greatest controversies in System One’s historical past.
The FIA race director ignored sure elements of F1’s security automobile restart process so as to make sure the title was determined by one closing lap of racing relatively than behind the protection automobile. The choice handed Verstappen with the chance to catch and move Hamilton, which he managed to do on the ultimate lap to safe the championship.
Mercedes protested the FIA’s dealing with of the race solely to have its argument dismissed by the race stewards. The workforce then lodged its intention to enchantment, which it lastly withdrew on Thursday within the hope that it could be capable of maintain the FIA to account with out taking the governing physique to court docket.
However talking after Mercedes had withdrawn its enchantment, Wolff mentioned he would work with the FIA and its plan to analyze the ultimate few laps however had no want to debate the state of affairs immediately with Masi.
“I am not inquisitive about having a dialog with Michael Masi,” Wolff mentioned. “The choices which were taken within the final 4 minutes of the race have dropped Lewis Hamilton out of a deserved world championship.
“His driving within the final 4 races notably was faultless. He had a commanding lead on Sunday in Abu Dhabi from the get go. He gained the beginning and he by no means gave the lead away once more.
“And robbing him within the final lap of the racing, is unacceptable. That is why from a private standpoint, from an expert standpoint, I can not… my values, my sense of integrity, simply is not appropriate to the choices which were made on Sunday.
“And it’s as much as the FIA to resolve going ahead how these selections, how these conditions, might be prevented. I’d have been completely okay with Max and Pink Bull successful the championship on Sunday, and this example has nothing to do with Max, he’s a worthy champion, his driving is outstanding, and Pink Bull are fierce rivals, and I’ve the best respect of the folks working there.
“This has nothing to do with them. However I’d love to take a seat right here and keep away from all these discussions and the injury that has been finished to the game by unfair resolution making on Sunday. The FIA must resolve how they are going ahead.
“We had a very good dialogue with the FIA over the previous few days, the fee is in place [to investigate what happened] and I’ve belief and religion that we are going to formulate along with different groups the appropriate selections and actions to keep away from such a situation sooner or later.”
Requested what he anticipated from the FIA’s investigation, Wolff added: “I count on the fee to not solely give you phrases however with actions, and we’ll maintain them accountable for actions, as we can not proceed in a sport that’s meant to be sport adopted by leisure and never the opposite approach round the place we’re held ransom by advert hoc selections in any discipline — be it technical or sporting.
“Subsequently there must be clear measures in place earlier than the beginning of the season so each driver, each workforce, and the followers, perceive what’s on and what’s not on.”
Wolff was additionally requested if he believed Masi wanted to get replaced as race director.
“It is not solely a choice to vary the race director, the entire system of decision-making must be improved,” he mentioned. “As I mentioned earlier than, I feel the race director is actually underneath massive stress and a few of that is because of our personal faults.
“I’d have wished for extra constant resolution making that might have prevented most of the controversies all year long however the final one was only a resolution that had the most important impression. From a sporting perspective it had a catastrophic impression, as a result of it determined the world championship.
“You may say all season went backwards and forwards and we have been on the receiving finish typically and typically we have been extra fortunate, however I’ve confidence that each one of us collectively, the groups, the drivers and the FIA and the game, can revamp the best way selections are being made and make the game stronger.”