MERC MY DAY
Wolff’s still got power to see off his rivals
The Silver Arrows have enjoyed another one- sided campaign so far, winning six of the opening seven races and securing every pole position available.
But in a bid to level the playing field, teams must now run engines in the same mode in qualifying and the race after the FIA issued a technical directive aimed at making it easier to monitor power units.
Until now drivers could use different modes for more performance when needed, particularly in qualifying, which has seen Mercedes exploit their so- called ‘ party mode’.
Wolff, though, takes the decision as an obvious sign that they are head and shoulders above the rest.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Italian GP, he said: “Well, everybody
IT’S TOTO DOMINATION: Wolff sits on his all- conquering car and with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas after another successful raceday is trying to slow us down – and we are trying the best to maintain the gaps.
“It’s frustrating as we have optimised our power unit for qualifying performance because we think starting at the front is important.
“But I also understand the dynamic between the FIA and the other teams to somehow slow us down.
“It has always happened in the past when teams run away in the championships, that other teams gang up on them. That is the case with Mercedes but we take it very sportsmanlike in a way of, ‘ Bring it on’.”
Lewis Hamilton also sees the clampdown on engine modes as a compliment.
The six- time world champion has made the most of Mercedes’ rapid pace this season, triumphing five times to boast a 47- point lead at the top of the standings.
“All I can say is, I’m really proud of my guys because we obviously did a great job. I don’t know who called it party mode, but everyone has a party mode, basically.
“You go through qualifying you have multiple settings, you go through practice you have multiple ( settings), and when you get to the end of qualifying you generally try to use the most powerful, which you can’t use all the time.
“What’s crazy is this switch. They’ve said it’s for one reason and then you’ve got Red Bull who came out and said, ‘ No, no, we were going after them to hold them back!’
“So someone is not telling the truth! All we can do is just smile and keep working hard.
“That’s what we’ll do. I think it’s a compliment.”
The tactics did little to dent Mercedes at Monza yesterday as Valtteri Bottas topped the timesheets in morning practice before Hamilton charged to the head of the field in the second session.