Mercedes-Ferrari duel for second place intensifies amidst Toto Wolff's nod to 'proper race director'
Posted : 22 November 2023
As the season draws to a close with Mercedes and Ferrari vying for second place in the constructors' championship, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff seemed to direct a subtle jab at former Formula 1 race director Michael Masi.
The tense battle sees Mercedes holding a narrow four-point lead over Ferrari as they head into the final race at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, the same venue where the controversial 2021 title decider unfolded between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Masi, the race director during the 2021 championship decider, faced widespread criticism for allowing only the cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves, leading to a contentious last-lap shootout that Verstappen ultimately won.
Despite an FIA investigation attributing the incident to "human error," the final result remained unaltered. Reflecting on this history, Wolff expressed confidence in facing the competition with what he referred to as a "proper race director," implying a contrast to Masi.
Mercedes has struggled to match Red Bull's pace throughout the season, with Verstappen securing a third successive world title. Both Hamilton and George Russell have faced frustrations with the W14, experiencing difficulties in various races.
The recent Las Vegas Grand Prix saw Hamilton finishing seventh after a puncture disrupted his podium aspirations, while Russell's collision with Verstappen resulted in an eighth-place finish after a penalty. Wolff acknowledged the disappointment of not converting pace into points but remained optimistic, citing an improvement over the challenging Sao Paolo weekend as they aim for solid podium finishes in the remaining races.
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