THE GLOVES ARE OFF
Wolff’s ready for battle
MERCEDES chief Toto Wolff says anything goes in Lewis Hamilton’s title battle with Max Verstappen.
The Red Bull charger has escaped punishment for his aggressive driving at last Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix, which saw Hamilton forced off the track while trying to overtake.
The Brit recovered to get the job done, cutting Verstappen’s championship lead to 14 points.
But Wolff clearly feels the FIA’S decision to throw out Mercedes’ appeal to reexamine the flashpoint at Interlagos means anything goes in the remaining three races, starting in Qatar this weekend.
“Olympic boxing went to pro boxing and is now MMA,” said Wolff.
“But that is okay, we are in the ring now trying to do the best job possible. Elbows are allowed now because the rules say so and the gloves are off.”
The news about Verstappen’s let off broke as Wolff and his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner engaged in some verbal sparring during
by SIMON CASS
yesterday’s press conference. “It completely expected,” said Wolff.
“We wanted to trigger a discussion around it because it will probably be a theme in the next few races. We didn’t really think it would go any further.”
Horner countered, saying: “It is obviously the right decision as it would open Pandora’s Box on other decisions that happened at that race.”
And on his Mercedes counterpart, Horner said: “There is no relationship, there is competition.
“We have worked hard to get into this position, this is the first time they have been challenged and it is interesting to see how people react when they are challenged.
“I don’t need to go to dinner with Toto, I don’t need to kiss his a**e. It is a competition.”
The action promises to be just as frantic at the Losail International Circuit this weekend.
Valtteri Bottas put Mercedes on the top of the pile in second practice, ahead of Pierre Gasly’s Alphatauri, with Verstappen third and Hamilton fourth. is