TOTO WOLFF ISSUES CLARIFICATION AFTER FRED VASSEUR 'CHEATING' COMMENT

Toto Wolff has tried to calm Fred Vasseur's fears over claims Ferrari is 'cheating' in F1.

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Toto Wolff has clarified his comments over Ferrari's relentless upgrade pace in F1, after Fred Vasseur felt the Mercedes boss was insinuating the Scuderia was "cheating."

After the Austrian GP, Wolff wondered if Ferrari would run out of cost cap money following its strong upgrade pace, which has included big packages in both Miami and Barcelona, and an engine upgrade in Austria. 

In contrast, Mercedes' sole big package came in Canada, and although Wolff did not claim that he felt Ferrari was "cheating", Vasseur used the word when first asked about Wolff's comments on Friday at Silverstone. 

"When Red Bull is developing or Mercedes is developing, they are geniuses, but when we are developing, we are cheating," the Ferrari boss had said, before adding,: "if you think we overshoot the cost cap, for me, it is going in this direction."

Responding to Vasseur's comments, Wolff did his best to soothe the concerns of the Ferrari boss. 

"Fred is very emotional, and if he would have read my comments rather than just a headline, he would have seen that what I said was an observation," Wolff told Sky Sports F1. 

"[I said] it would be interesting to see how many updates one can pull out at the end of the season.

"It’s just the emotionality that we all have, and being passionate about team success. I’m fine with that.

"It was misunderstood. If I say things that I want to be understood, I will do so too, but in that case I didn’t mean it."

- Jake Nichol

MERCEDES GRANTED FIA HEARING OVER GEORGE RUSSELL'S MONACO F1 PENALTY

The FIA has confirmed Mercedes' request for a review of the Monaco Grand Prix results, with a hearing scheduled for this Saturday ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix

George Russell, Mercedes

Photo by: Erik Junius

The FIA has accepted Mercedes' request for a review of the Monaco Grand Prix result and George Russell's penalties, with a hearing scheduled for this Saturday, following Alpine's successful overturning of Pierre Gasly's penalties.

A document published by the FIA on Wednesday confirmed that Mercedes has lodged a Right of Review petition regarding the decision made by the Monaco stewards following Alpine's successful challenge against the penalties issued during the race.

That puts the Monaco Grrand Prix result in further doubt after it was already amended last week.

The hearing will take place in two stages. As per the regulations, the stewards will first determine whether Mercedes has presented a "significant and relevant new element" that was unavailable at the time of the original decision. If that threshold is met, the case will proceed to a second hearing, where the substance of the challenge will be considered.

The latest development follows the dramatic twist in the Monaco Grand Prix result that saw Gasly's two pitlane speeding penalties overturned.

Several drivers were penalised during the race for allegedly exceeding the 60km/h pitlane speed limit. Gasly received two separate five-second penalties, dropping him from a podium finish to seventh place in the final classification.

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine

However, Alpine successfully challenged those penalties after presenting evidence that the distance used by the official timing system in one of the pitlane timing sectors was incorrect for the Monaco pitlane layout. Formula One Management acknowledged the issue, admitting the timing system had been set up incorrectly, leading the stewards to rescind both penalties and restore Gasly to third place.

That decision immediately raised questions about the cases of other drivers who had received penalties under the same circumstances.

While the FIA stewards have not yet formally established that Russell's penalty was unjustified, the fact that FOM acknowledged the timing system was working incorrectly strongly suggests the Mercedes driver may also have been incorrectly penalised for speeding in the pitlane.

Russell was initially handed a five-second penalty for pitlane speeding. He then attempted to serve that penalty during a pitstop, but the stewards later determined that the penalty had not been served correctly. As a result, he received an additional drive-through penalty, which he served after the final restart.

The sequence dropped Russell out of the points, turning what had been a solid points-scoring afternoon into a point-less finish.

The consequences extended beyond Monaco itself, as Russell lost significant ground in the drivers' championship, with the zero score proving particularly costly in his battle against team-mate Kimi Antonelli.

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes

Two other teams are understood to be challenging what is now a provisional Monaco Grand Prix result, with McLaren having already confirmed on Tuesday that it has formally protested the decision to overturn Gasly's penalties.

Its driver Oscar Piastri was also penalised during the race but, unlike Gasly, served his penalty during the grand prix. As a result, the decision to reinstate Gasly's original race time effectively dropped Piastri from fourth to fifth in the final classification.

Red Bull has not confirmed that it has protested last week's stewards' decision, but it is understood to have done so as well, as it seeks to restore Isack Hadjar's podium finish.

Hadjar originally inherited third place after Gasly's penalties were applied, before losing the position again when the Alpine driver's sanctions were rescinded.

Following the stewards' decision to cancel Gasly's penalties, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed the team's intention to continue challenging the Monaco result.

While admitting it was a long shot to have Russell's result revised, Wolff stressed that Mercedes would explore every possible avenue to secure a better outcome for its driver.

Although Russell ultimately finished outside the top 10 after serving a drive-through penalty, he had been running third on the road before the sanction was applied.

Wolff suggested there may be a mechanism to revisit the result by converting Russell's drive-through penalty into an equivalent time penalty. Under the sporting regulations, a drive-through penalty that cannot be served during a race is converted into a 20-second addition to a driver's race time.

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLaren

"A drive-through, if it didn't happen at the end, is equivalent of 20 seconds race time," Wolff said. "What would 20 seconds race time have meant for his result? Do we think that we realistically have a position, a chance of reverting the result? I don't think so, but we definitely have to give it a go if we see that there is a millimetre of chance to do so and bring him back to whatever it was before."

Wolff was referring to Article B1.9.6.c.iii of the sporting regulations, which covers situations where a driver is unable to serve a drive-through penalty during a race. In such cases, 20 seconds are added to the driver's final race time.

The Mercedes boss argued that the same principle could potentially be used in reverse if the original speeding penalty is ultimately deemed invalid. Under that interpretation, Russell's drive-through could effectively be converted into a 20-second race-time adjustment, potentially moving him back into the points-paying positions.

Whether the stewards have the regulatory scope to apply such a solution remains unclear, but it is one of the possible avenues Mercedes could pursue in its attempt to recover some of the ground Russell lost in Monaco.

- Oleg Karpov

FORMULA 1 MONACO GRAND PRIX 2026: MERCEDES RIVALRY HEATS UP, FERRARI LURKING

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Moving from the thrilling speeds of Montreal to the complex layout of Monte Carlo, Formula 1 shifts gears this weekend, offering a stark difference in racing styles. Monaco stands out as a highly esteemed jewel on the racing calendar, a win every driver wants to put on their resume.

With Mercedes facing internal conflicts, Ferrari exuding confidence, and the FIA implementing subtle rule changes specific to this circuit, the scene is prepared for an exciting Monaco Grand Prix in 2026.

Let’s explore the captivating storylines unfolding as F1 returns to Europe for this legendary race.

The Mercedes Problem Toto Wolff Can’t Ignore Much Longer

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Toto Wolff is grappling with a challenge that most team principals would welcome, with a big caveat.

Kimi Antonelli emerged victorious in Canada for the fourth consecutive time, jumping out to a comfortable 43-point lead in the driver’s championship hunt. But what truly stood out in Montreal was how he won his fourth-straight race. The young Italian and his teammate George Russell engaged in intense battles throughout the weekend in Montreal, constantly exchanging positions during both the sprint race and the Grand Prix until Russell’s engine failed on lap 29. It was captivating drama for race fans but a daunting task for those responsible for keeping both cars intact for the remainder of the season.

There was a close call on Saturday when Antonelli ran wide at Turn 1, skidding across the grass and narrowly avoiding collecting Russell on his return to the track. Wolff intervened over the radio to calm the young driver down. While they raced more cleanly on Sunday, the near-misses continued to accumulate. The upcoming race in Monaco presents a challenging scenario where there is minimal room for error and even less opportunity for recovery.

The pressing question on everyone’s mind is whether Wolff will establish clear rules of engagement before the situation escalates beyond repair. Russell hinted to reporters after the Canadian race that the championship was Antonelli’s to lose, a statement typically made when one is not convinced of its accuracy. Considering Antonelli’s struggles in Monaco last year, Russell must aim to start narrowing the 43-point gap on Saturday.

Ferrari Smells a Win, Leclerc Smells Home

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Following their Montreal outing, Ferrari is entering Monaco with a newfound sense of confidence, hinting at a potential breakthrough this weekend. While Lewis Hamilton’s notable second-place finish stood out in Montreal, Charles Leclerc, though not matching that speed, boasts a strong history at his home race in Monte Carlo. The Monegasque driver typically shines on this renowned track and Ferrari is marking his return with a distinctive race attire and cap.

The Ferrari SF-26 showcased impressive performance in slow turns during the Canadian Grand Prix, a trait that fits well with the demands of Monaco’s circuit. McLaren and Mercedes have both pinpointed Ferrari as the team to challenge in Monaco, highlighting the significance of chassis performance over engine power on this track. With Leclerc’s exceptional skills in single-lap racing and a resurgent Hamilton by his side, Ferrari has an opportunity to clinch its first win of the season at this prestigious location.

A Special Regulation Adjustment for F1 in Monaco

Formula 1 has introduced a temporary change to its regulations for the Monaco Grand Prix to bolster safety. The new measure involves deactivating the active aerodynamics feature called straight mode, which enables drivers to adjust their front and rear wings on straights to lessen drag, akin to the past DRS system.

For the Monaco race, straight mode has been completely disabled by the FIA, prioritizing safety concerns despite the historical use of DRS at Monaco in previous seasons. Drivers will still have access to overtake mode, providing an energy boost to those close to the car ahead. Additionally, the energy deployment plan has been adjusted for the narrow Monaco track, with the MGU-K hybrid boost now tapering off at 200 km/h instead of 290 km/h. This adjustment will lead the cars to produce more downforce than at any other point this season on straight paths, introducing a new challenge for drivers as they approach the harbor. This unexpected change brings an element of unpredictability to a race weekend typically known for its predictability.

The Importance of Qualifying in Monaco

For newcomers to Formula 1 seeking to understand the significance of Saturday at the Monaco Grand Prix, the reason is simple: overtaking is extremely difficult on this track. With 19 corners packed into the 2.074-mile circuit, minimal high-speed stretches, and few overtaking chances, securing a good position on the track is crucial.

Lando Norris is the defending champion, while Ayrton Senna holds the record for the most wins on these demanding streets with six victories. The task is straightforward in theory but demanding in practice. Drivers must deliver during qualifying on each lap, aware that even a small mistake could lead to contact with the barriers and an early end to their race. While strategy, safety car appearances, and track position are vital on race day, the groundwork for success is laid during qualifying, well before the race starts.

Increased Traffic Issues on an Already Crowded Circuit

An important development, though seemingly minor, is the increase to 22 cars competing on the narrowest track in Formula 1.

Cadillac’s entry this season expanded the grid to 22 contenders, heightening the challenge during qualifying sessions, especially in Q1 when all cars are simultaneously aiming for a clear lap. Finding room to set a fast lap without obstructing others is already a tough task for strategists on a regular weekend, but the Monaco circuit makes it even tougher.

Practice sessions offer limited relief, as cars operate at different speeds and fuel loads, potentially disrupting drivers on flying laps. Anticipate hearing frustrated radio transmissions as drivers grapple with blocked laps, which can lead to a significant grid penalty in Monaco, where track position is crucial for race success.

- SCOTT GULBRANSEN

TOTO WOLFF SIGNALS MERCEDES INTENT WITH RADICAL NEW 'MEGA' RULE CHANGE

Toto Wolff says Mercedes is open to a radical new set of regulations, potentially with a 1200bhp engine.

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Toto Wolff has signalled that Mercedes is open to the return of V8 engines to F1, as he proposed a 1,200bhp "mega engine."

Over the Miami weekend, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem indicated that F1's next set of engine regulations would herald the return of the naturally aspirated engines for the first time since 2013, with the new cycle set to begin in 2030 or 2031.

F1's current rules had been designed to entice OEMs to enter, with Audi, Honda, General Motors, and Ford all on the grid, either as full works teams, customers, or, in Ford's case, a technical partner to Red Bull Powertrains. 

Such a move would be a drastic shift away from hybrid technology, with Wolff, a long-time supporter of the turbo hybrids open to ditching them, but as long as some form of battery power remained.

"From a Mercedes standpoint, we are open to new engine regulations," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365.

"We love V8s, it only has great memories, and from our perspective, it is a pure Mercedes engine, it revs high, and then, how do we make it?

"How do we give it enough energy from the battery side not to lose connection to the real world, because if we seing 100% combustion, we might be looking ridiculous in 2030 or 2031, so we need to consider how to make it simpler and a mega engine.

"Maybe we can extract 800 horsepower from the ICE, and then we put 400 on top of it in terms of electrical energy. We are absolutely up for it, as long as those discussions happen in a structured way, with people's considerations being taken on board.

"We recognise the financial realities of OEMs these days, we don't have it easy, but if it is well-planned and executed, count Mercedes in to come back with a real racing engine."

Join RacingNews365's Nick Golding and Samuel Coop as they look back on last weekend's Miami Grand Prix! The duo offer their thoughts on F1's rule changes in action and Max Verstappen remaining unhappy despite an exciting race.

- Ian Parkes

MERCEDES BOSS TOTO WOLFF ON RAIN 🌧️ | MIAMI GRAND PRIX

 

MERCEDES BOSS TOTO WOLFF TAKES AIM AT RIVAL F1 TEAMS OVER THE ON GOING MERCEDES ENGINE CONTROVERSY

MERCEDES TO SLASH ENGINE CUSTOMERS, HINTS WOLFF

Wolff signals slimmer Mercedes customer roster for next rules era

Mercedes is preparing to tighten its engine supply network in the next regulation cycle, with Toto Wolff making clear the works team doesn’t plan to power as many cars up and down the pit lane as it does now.

Speaking on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Wolff said the company is reassessing how many customers its Brixworth-based High Performance Powertrains division should support when the rules reset after the incoming 2026 era runs its course.

“I think where our current mindset is, also discussing with Ola [Källenius], is that we will reduce the number of teams we are going to supply in the next cycle,” Wolff said. “We don’t know whether the truth is between two and three [in total]… it depends on new regulations going forward. Are they rather simple or not? … It’s not going to be four anymore.”

Mercedes HPP is one of five power unit manufacturers on the grid alongside Ferrari, Honda, Audi and Red Bull Powertrains/Ford. Its hardware sits in the back of the works cars and long-standing partners McLaren and Williams, with Alpine set to join the fold for 2026. That spread has traditionally given Mercedes a data deluge when the lights go out on a fresh ruleset — more cars, more mileage, more feedback — but it also brings logistical heft and earlier design lock-ins that can bite.

“When you consider how many engines we need to ship to Melbourne, for all of us, 16 engines… longer lead times, longer production cycles,” Wolff said. “All of that going forward, it’s not going to be four anymore.”

Hywel Thomas, managing director at HPP, outlined the same push-pull from the factory floor. More partners equals more learning — and more headaches.

“We’ve shown in the past that having more than one team, you’re getting more data, more information… you’ve got four times the engineers all sitting around telling you, ‘No, you can do this better,’ and that is very, very beneficial,” Thomas said. “Doesn’t always feel like it, but it definitely is in terms of making a great product.

“But the flip of that is, we’ve got to make a lot of hardware. We’ve got to make a few decisions earlier. I’m not even sure whether the right place is one team, two teams, three teams, or four teams. There’s definitely a sweet spot in there somewhere. I think it’s probably nearer four than one.”

That “sweet spot” is where the internal debate clearly lives. Wolff wants a leaner roster in the long term; Thomas sees value in a wider customer map. What’s not up for debate is the priority. HPP exists to serve the Mercedes works operation first.

“We are wholly owned by Mercedes. We exist to do one thing, and that’s to win World Championships with Mercedes,” Thomas said. “That’s why I sit in a Mercedes garage, and it’s why the relationships with the engineering group in Brackley are so strong.”

Wolff was even blunter. Customer wins are nice-to-have. The star on the nose is the must-have.

“The raison d’être for HPP is to win World Championships with the works team,” he said. “In order to make the economies work and also to use it as a test bench and a comparison to the works team, it’s good that we have the customer supply situation.

“There will always be a part of Hywel, and I think HPP, that is allowed to cheer for their power unit to have won a championship,” Wolff added. “But the mindset we always had is that this power unit has won a Constructors’ World Championship. That means our car wasn’t good enough… For us, being able to benchmark ourselves, you can at least take the power unit out of the equation. So on the chassis side, we haven’t done that.”

Read between the lines and the plan looks pragmatic. Keep enough partner cars for data and benchmarking — the “test bench” Wolff references — but not so many that Brixworth is forced into conservative choices or long lead times that blunt development agility. In practice, that likely means some of today’s Mercedes-powered teams won’t be by the time the next rules arrive.

For now, Mercedes will head into the 2026 reset with a large footprint and a familiar philosophy: build a PU that can win, use customer programs to accelerate the learning, and make sure the car in silver is the one that cashes the cheques. The next era after that? Fewer shirts to ship, fewer engines to box up, and a tighter circle around Brackley and Brixworth.

- Alex Albuquerque

TOTO WOLFF JUST REVEALED THE QUESTIONABLE MOTIVE BEHIND LEWIS HAMILTON'S FERRARI MOVE

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Toto Wolff has revealed the reasoning behind Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari after 12 seasons with Mercedes, which saw him win the drivers’ championship six times and help the team to eight consecutive constructors’ championships.

The British driver’s final year with Mercedes had shades of a fairytale ending. Hamilton won the 2024 British Grand Prix in his final appearance at Silverstone as a Silver Arrow, marking his first win in F1 for 945 days.

Since making the move across the pit lane to Ferrari, things haven’t quite gone to plan.

Hamilton is currently in the midst of the longest podium-less streak in his F1 career, having not yet registered a top-three Grand Prix finish with the Scuderia.

The move caused quite a stir at the time, with many not sure about the seven-time world champion’s decision to swap silver for red amid the hype of the sport’s most recognisable star joining the most iconic team.

Toto Wolff reveals Ferrari’s offer to Lewis Hamilton was ‘very good’ among other motives

In a recent interview with GPBlog, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff revealed the reasons for Hamilton’s departure from the team after such a successful tenure, stating, “There were moments of unhappiness with us, many times.

“I think all the reasons he had to go to Ferrari are still valid today. He needed a change of environment. And we needed a change of environment. We weren’t as competitive as we would have wished.

“Ferrari looked better. Every racing driver wants to race for Ferrari. He likes the colour red anyway. The deal that was on the table was very good. And that’s, like I said, these reasons are still valid today.”

Wolff’s words beg the question: should Hamilton have prioritised better contract terms at Ferrari over the stability and prior knowledge of the inner workings at Mercedes in his decision to make the move?

At the time of the seven-time world champion’s announcement, Mercedes had just pipped Ferrari to second place in the 2023 standings and was looking to build on that heading into the 2024 season.

If things had gone differently at the highly controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, we may be looking at a completely different scenario for Lewis Hamilton in F1.

But they didn’t, and Mercedes saw themselves fall down the F1 pecking order in the following season when F1 introduced a new set of regulations.

They put all of their faith in the ‘zero-pod’ concept which backfired massively, and cracks started to appear in the dynamic of the team that had once looked to be unbeatable.

Wolff may not want to make the same mistake as he did with Hamilton’s exit in relation to George Russell’s contract extension at Mercedes. Russell has made the same demands as Hamilton in negotiations, putting the ball in Wolff’s court to make a decision on the future of the team.

Did Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari make sense?

The British driver’s main motivation in sticking around in F1 into his 40s is to get another shot at an eighth world championship that he feels should have been his a long time ago, and he felt that making a move to one of Mercedes’ main F1 rivals would be the right way to go about that.

However, Hamilton would have been much better off sticking around at Mercedes and making an effort with the team’s 2026 challenger to push for a title once the new F1 regulations come into effect and the grid resets.

Instead, Hamilton has had to contend with several issues in his debut campaign with Ferrari and may have deja vu once the new cars hit the track for testing next year.

Wolff believes no one will remember Hamilton at Ferrari due to his lack of success at the team. The motorsport executive compared his current stint to Michael Schumacher’s return to F1 with Mercedes in 2010.

The German legend was a shell of his former self as he battled amongst the midfield in sub-optimal machinery. Whilst Ferrari is in a much better spot than Mercedes’ early years in F1, the lack of results for Hamilton may be having a regressing effect on his legacy in the sport.

TOTO WOLFF CLARIFIES 'SEMI-SARCASTIC' 400KM/H COMMENT ON 2026 REGULATION F1 CARS

Toto Wolff says his 400km/h line was a semi-sarcastic, theoretical example of dumping all hybrid energy on one straight, not a literal prediction

Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Photo by: Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 / Getty Images

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has clarified his comments about the 2026 Formula 1 cars potentially being able to reach 400km/h. Describing his comments as 'semi-sarcastic', he explained the context behind them ahead of the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix.

The Austrian originally commented on next season's car to Auto Motor und Sport, where he claimed that "when the full power is deployed, we will scratch the 400km/h limit."

This comment sparked multiple reactions from the paddock. 

"Maybe Toto's engine will reach that," Red Bull's Max Verstappen joked. "I don't know. I think the FIA has already explained quite clearly that they won't allow it."

Williams' Carlos Sainz also added his thoughts: "I wish if that's the case. The HPP [Mercedes High Performance Powertrains] must be doing a good job, but I didn't hit [400km/h]."

Pierre Gasly didn't believe the Mercedes chief's claims: "I don't believe stories, I only believe what I see. I'm sure we can even go 400 with those cars if you change the gearbox and increase the straights. Take off the first chicane in Monza.

"I've tried the car in the simulator and I know what it does. I'm not too sure where that comes from, to be honest."

Getty Images

Explaining himself after FP1 at Zandvoort, Wolff was quick to set everyone at ease.

"Everybody's talking those engines down so I had to figure out is there anything positive and that is if you were to deploy - obviously semi-sarcastically - but if you were to deploy all the energy on a single straight you could make those cars go 400km/h.

"And I don't know if somebody got afraid by it, but we could. But there wouldn't be much electric energy left for the other few corners on a track on a circuit."

Wolff's comments were then partially intended as a counter-narrative to combat the criticism the 2026 power unit regulations are currently coming under. 

These regulations will introduce a 50-50 split between electric and combustion engine power, on top of active aerodynamics and a boost function which replaces DRS. An objective of the FIA is to increase the top speed of cars next season while reducing downforce, so while there is talk of cars being limited, Motorsport.com understands that this isn't yet seen as a safety issue. 

As expected, the FIA will also be tweaking the regulations based on feedback from teams. 

- Alex Harrington

TOTO WOLFF SENDS LEWIS HAMILTON STRONG MESSAGE AFTER HUNGARY DESPAIR

© XPBimages

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has sent Lewis Hamilton a firm message after his horror weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Toto Wolff believes Lewis Hamilton was "raw" and simply "wearing his heart on his sleeve" after comments made during a dismal Hungarian GP weekend.

After being eliminated in 12th place in Q2, Hamilton claimed he was "useless" and suggested Ferrari needed to find "another driver", such has been his struggles.

He then went on to record his worst-ever finish in Hungary, a lapped 12th, and doubled down on those comments, but did indicate he would still be in the seat for the Dutch Grand Prix. 

Analysing the situation, Wolff, with whom Hamilton won six of his seven world titles at Mercedes, believes his former driver must remember that he is the "greatest of all time."

"No, it was Lewis wearing his heart on his sleeve," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365, when asked if Hamilton had registered a decline in his abilities.

"It's very much what he felt when he was asked after the session, he was very raw, he doubted himself, and we've had it in the past, that when he felt he had underperformed his own expectations, he's been emotional.

"He's emotionally transparent since he was a young boy and adult, so he is going to beat himself up. He is the GOAT, and he will always be the GOAT, and nobody is going to take that away, and for sure not a single weekend or race season that has not gone to plan. 

"It is something that he needs to remember, that he is the greatest of all time. 

"Lewis has unfinished business in Formula 1, so in the same way that Mercedes underperformed over this latest set of regulations and never got happy with ground effect cars, maybe it is linked to the driving style. 

"He shouldn't go anywhere next year with the brand-new cars, which are completely different to drive, new power units which need an intelligent way of managing the energy, so it's absolutely on for Lewis. 

"I hope he stays on for many more years."

- Aaron Deckers & Jake Nichol

SKY SPORTS APOLOGISE AS TOTO WOLFF SWEARS ON LIVE ON LIVE TV SUGGESTING CRISTIAN HORNER JOB

Sky Sports were forced to apologise after Mercedes boss Toto Wolff swore live on air as he gave a hilarious suggestion about Christian Horner’s new role

Toto Wolff swore live on TV(Image: Sky Sports)

Sky Sports were forced to apologise as Mercedes boss Toto Wolff swore live on air.

Following the end of the sole qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix sprint weekend, Wolff was asked about Christian Horner’s sacking from Red Bull. The two became fierce rivals as Red Bull took over Mercedes’ dominance in the sport.

Wolff was asked whether he would miss Horner in the paddock despite them being involved in numerous heated fallouts in recent years. But the Mercedes team principal gave an answer that many weren’t expecting, certainly not Sky presenter Natalie Pinkham.

He said: "In a way, yes [I will miss him]. He was one of the main casts. I don't think he's gone forever; he could pop up in some other function.

"I need to be careful. He could be rocking up in the FIA, and then you know I'm really in the s***. He was someone that was controversial, polarising, and not soft-washed.

"That was good from the entertainment factor, and from that perspective, he will be missed. His track record speaks for itself."

Ironically, despite saying he needed to be careful, Wolff’s choice of words were anything but as Sky had to apologise for the use of his expletive language at the end of the interview, which was aired without a bleep.

Horner oversaw Red Bull taking Mercedes’ perch as the most dominant team in F1 when he won back-to-back Constructors’ Championships as Max Verstappen became a four-time world champion.

However, Red Bull’s form this season, and amid past controversies clouding over him, Horner was sacked following the British Grand Prix.

Two failed driver signings in Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda this season have seen Verstappen carrying the team again this year, but the Dutchman’s future is uncertain.

Wolff denied that his approaches to the Dutchman were a catalyst behind Horner’s dismissal.

He said: "No. There is much more in the background that we probably don't know with Red Bull.

"Looking after drivers, in my position as team principal of Mercedes, I need to explore what Max is going to do in the next few years, not only next year."

- Cameron Winstanley

ABU DHABI GP: LEWIS HAMILTON ENDS MERCEDES CAREER WITH P4 FINISH

Lewis Hamilton finished his Mercedes career with an impressive comeback, clinching fourth place after starting 16th at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Hamilton, rolling back the years, overtook teammate George Russell on the final lap.

The race called time on the most successful driver-team partnership of all time -- in his 12 years since joining Mercedes, Hamilton won 84 races and six world championships, adding to the title he won with McLaren in 2008.

The partnership even surpassed Michael Schuamcher's legendary stint at Ferrari between 1996 and 2006.

The British driver will now look to follow in Schumacher's footsteps by ending a drivers' championship drought for Ferrari, which stretches back to Kimi Raikkonen's 2007 title in Hamilton's rookie season.

If he does so, he will also move clear of the joint record of seven world championships he shares with the German driver.

Lewis Hamilton is waving goodbye to Mercedes ahead of his move to Ferrari for the 2025 season Joe Portlock/Getty Images

"That was the drive of a world champion," Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said to Hamilton on team radio after the race.,

Hamilton, meanwhile, told race engineer Peter Bonnington: "We dreamed alone but together we believed. What started out as a leap of faith turned into a journey into the history books."

Hamilton's debut Ferrari appearance will not take place until early 2025.

There was a chance he could have appeared for the team in the post-season test taking place at the Yas Marina circuit next week if an early release was settled on, but he is still contracted to Mercedes until the end of the calendar year.

"It's been a really turbulent year, probably the longest year of my life," Hamilton added to reporters in Abu Dhabi. "Lots of ups and downs, emotionally, but we finished off with a high today."

Lewis Hamilton performs donuts on the grid after finishing fourth at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for Mercedes. ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images

Next week Hamilton will visit Mercedes' title sponsor, Petronas, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as well as Mercedes' headquarters in Stuggart, Germany before visiting the team's two UK-based Formula 1 factories in Brixwoth and Brackley.

Mercedes has said the visits will be a celebration of Hamilton's career with the team.

Italy's Andrea Kimi Antonelli has already been confirmed as Hamilton's replacement for 2025 -- the teen prodigy will partner George Russell.

Hamilton, who stood on his Mercedes car after performing donuts on the Abu Dhabi grid, concluded: "Every moment that I've got in the car this week I've known that it's one of the last.

"It's been really hard to let go."

- Nate Saunders, Senior Writer, F1

ABU DHABI GP: TOTO WOLFF LABELS CHRISTIAN HORNER 'YAPPING LITTLE TERRIER '

Toto Wolff labelled his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner a "yapping little terrier" as he came to George Russell's defence in his growing feud with Max Verstappen.

A remarkable media day ahead of Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix started with Russell claiming to ESPN and select other media that Verstappen had threatened last week to "put me on my f---ing head in the wall'."

Russell had been responding to Verstappen's comments about him last Sunday -- the Dutchman had been irate with a grid penalty which cost him pole, one he felt Russell had lobbied for him to get.

In his own media session after the race Qatar, Red Bull boss Horner said: "Yesterday's penalty was more based on hysterics from George, who has been quite hysterical this weekend."

Wolff stepped in to respond to those comments.

In Russell's open media session at the Yas Marina circuit, which Wolff took the unusual step of joining -- he eventually picked up a microphone to defend his driver from the Red Bull pair.

"It's just weak," Wolff said. "At the end, why does he feel entitled to comment about my driver? How does that come? But thinking about it, I've spent 90 seconds to think about it...

"Yapping little terrier. Always something to say."

Wolff added: "I think as a team principal, it's important to be a sparring partner for your drivers.

Toto Wolff and Christian Horner have built an F1 rivalry during their times as Mercedes and Red Bull bosses Mark Thompson/Getty Images

"And that means explaining that things can be more nuanced. Statements that are absolutistic, taking everything is either right, 100% right or 100% wrong, is something I just think you need to explain, think of more nuance, depending from your perception and your perspective. You need to allow for something to be 51-49, you need to allow for it to be 70-30. There is always another side.

"Maybe when you look at it that way, and you explain it to the drivers and to your team, you come to the conclusion that there is truth on both sides. If you don't do that, you're falling short of your role."

When asked why he had felt the need to attend Russell's session, something he would not normally do, Wolff said Horner's comments had gone over the line.

"I tell you clearly," he said. "There is a thing between drivers, and this is George and Max, and I don't want to get involved in that, but if the other team principal calls George hysterical, this is where he crosses a line for me. Now, his forte for sure is not intellectual psychoanalysis, but that's quite a word. How dare you comment on the state of mind of my driver."

For the avoidance of doubt, Mercedes later clarified that both Wolff's comments had been directed at Horner, not Verstappen.

- Nate Saunders, Senior Writer, F1

LEWIS HAMILTON RESPONDS TO CONTROVERSIAL TOTO WOLFF COMMENTS ABOUT FERRARI MOVE

Lewis Hamilton has offered his thoughts on his boss' bold comments.

Lewis Hamilton has no bad blood with Toto Wolff (Image: Getty)

Lewis Hamilton has responded to Toto Wolff’s ‘shelf life’ comments, suggesting that there is no bad blood between the pair, despite the controversy that arose following a passage in a new Mercedes F1 book.

Hamilton made the decision to swap Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025 way back in February, and team principal Wolff eventually opted to replace him with Kimi Antonelli. It is a decision that he claims was made almost instantaneously, despite only being announced in September.

In a passage in the new book, ‘Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane’, the Mercedes team principal described Hamilton’s decision to leave the team as a good one for him, justifying his bold comments by stating that “everyone has a shelf life”.

These comments were interpreted negatively by some fans, who believed that the Mercedes team principal was suggesting that Hamilton was past his best and that his leaving took away a difficult decision from the Silver Arrows’ leadership. Wolff has since made an effort to clarify his thoughts.

“That was taken a little bit out of context,” he told BBC Radio 4 ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

“What I was referring to is that all of us, we age, and whether it’s in the car, on a pitch, or as a manager and entrepreneur, you have to, and this is what I’m trying to do with myself, understand am I going from great to good.

“Because good is not in Formula One anymore. Now, contrary to my own self-assessment, I think we see with Lewis that he’s very much there when the car is right.

“And we haven’t been able to give him that car for him to perform best and that is a frustration that we equally have in the team and for himself.

“But he’s very sharp. He’s different to when he was a 20-year-old, that’s certainly clear. His experience and his racecraft is tremendous.”

“I have not seen the news if I’m honest up until this weekend, so I haven’t been keeping up to date with it. I think he’s clarified his point, and you know Toto has been massively supportive over the years so it doesn’t really make any bearing on.”

- HARRY SMITH

TOTO WOLFF: MERCEDES IN 'SERIOUS TROUBLE' WITH F1 COST CAP AMID RECENT CRASHES

George Russell's latest crash has put Mercedes in danger with F1's budget cap

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has conceded George Russell’s FP2 crash at the Mexico City Grand Prix has placed the team in “serious trouble” with Formula 1‘s cost cap.

Russell’s participation in the second practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was curtailed when his car became unsettled over the kerb in the esses.

The Briton was pitched into a high-speed spin which sent him careering towards the barrier at Turn 9, granting the Mercedes mechanics a comprehensive repair build.

Russell’s incident marked his second in under a week as he also slammed into the wall in qualifying in the United States, costing him the side’s latest update package.

Those two episodes succeeded Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will partner Russell in 2025, sustaining a vast impact on his maiden FP1 appearance at Monza last month.

With crash damage contributing to each side’s budget cap allowance, Wolff is worried recent events could have a bearing on Mercedes remaining under the threshold.

“I think we can keep the old chassis, but everything else has to go out,” Wolff explained to Sky Germany.

“The engine has to come out, the gearbox has to be checked and then everything else. Two corners of the car are completely gone. So it’s serious damage.

“We’re in serious trouble. We are all struggling to stay within the budget cap and of course we had a bad accident with Kimi at Monza.

“Then the second one with George last week [in Austin] and now again this week.”

Russell’s participation not in doubt

Russell’s touch with the barrier was recorded at 35G and mandated a trip to the FIA medical centre, but he was cleared and is set to continue competing this weekend.

“[It was] 35G,” Wolff divulged. “So that was a really big impact. He was taken to the medical centre, but he’s okay.

“But of course, the car is badly damaged… but we have the [spare] parts.”

- Taylor Powling

TOTO WOLFF REACTS TO KIMI'S DEBUT ACCIDENT 👀

 

TOTO WOLFF ON GEORGE RUSSELL'S DISQUALIFICATION FROM BELGIAN GP

 

HAMILTON: NEW TYRE OFFSET COST SHOT OF BELGIAN GP FRONT ROW

The lack of a new tyre at the end of Belgian GP qualifying cost Hamilton a shot at the front row.

Lewis Hamilton reckons a front-row start would have been on the cards for Formula 1's Belgian Grand Prix if he had not been on a tyre offset against his rivals.

The Briton knew that the wet weather that impacted qualifying offered him and his Mercedes team a better chance of getting nearer the front, with the W15 not appearing well suited to the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Friday's dry running.

While happy to set the fourth fastest time in Q3, which will become third on the grid thanks to Max Verstappen's penalty, he reckons that more could have been possible.

"For sure I definitely can't complain," he said. "I think, when I looked at my theoretical time, I should have been second.

"But I think if I had had another tyre at the end, I think I could have [been]."

Hamilton says his pace was ultimately dictated by the timing of running new tyres, with him claiming that an aborted extra run in Q1 effectively meant he was always on the back foot with his available rubber choice throughout the remainder of the session.

"I'm always comfortable in these conditions and I do think we could have been further up if we got timing quite perfect in the last stint," he said.

"But we needed to get through Q1…We came in a bit late, then when I went back out, I couldn't do a lap because there was traffic into the last corner. So I didn't get to do that lap.

"That then kind of offsets you through the whole session because I only had one new set at the end."

Hamilton was knocked down the order by rivals electing to run late on with a new tyre, having capitalised on the track conditions unexpectedly drying.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff in particular reckoned that others had taken a big gamble to leave it so late and rely on the weather clearing.

And he went further than Hamilton in suggesting that he could have been at the front if the team had done the same as others.

Speaking to ServusTV, Wolff said: "The pace was good. We were out early and chose the conservative route. We could probably have started from pole position if we had done what Leclerc did, namely gambled on it being dry at the end, which worked out for him.

"They [Ferrari] weren't so good in the long runs yesterday in the dry, but of course you can never write off Leclerc.

"Today they were the only ones to go out with the new tyre. Verstappen also had one, but he was the only one of the others. They gambled on a dry finish and that worked out for them."

With Hamilton not convinced Mercedes has the pace potential it has had in recent races, he thinks it will be hard to hold on to his top-three slot.

"I think there's a slight chance we could maybe fight for a podium, but I think it will be really tough," he explained.

"We have McLarens behind us, a Red Bull ahead and another quick Red Bull that's going to come through. It's going to be tough. I think the Ferrari is also just there with us in performance."

- Jonathan Noble 

TOTO WOLFF: MERCEDES OPEN MINDED ON F1 ENGINES FOR ALPINE

Toto Wolff said a new team will be a good learning opportunity for Mercedes. Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty Images

 Mercedes have told Renault-owned Alpine they are "open-minded" on supplying Formula One power units from 2026 should the French manufacturer decide not to make its own, team boss Toto Wolff said on Friday.

Renault are known to be assessing their future as an engine manufacturer, with a new era starting in 2026 and requiring hefty investment.

There has been speculation Alpine could become a customer of Mercedes but Wolff told reporters at the British Grand Prix that it was a complicated situation.

Mercedes currently supply their own factory team, Williams, Aston Martin and McLaren with engines but Aston will be Honda powered from 2026.

"We like the thought of replacing Aston Martin with another team because of the sheer learning you're doing," said Wolff.

"We're set up as an organisation that the more power units the better it is in terms of accelerating some of the developments or the reliability.

"So this is where it is. It didn't go beyond the point of exchanging opinions or having exploratory discussions. I think Alpine will take a decision soon on whether they want to continue with their Formula One engine programme or not.

"Only when they have taken that strategic decision we would dive into our agreements. But we are open-minded and that's what we have told them."

Alpine, the only team to use Renault engines, are under-performing and only eighth in the standings with nine points.

McLaren boss Zak Brown said what was good for Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP) was also good for his team but felt a decision would need to be taken before the August break.

Williams boss James Vowles said the more engines being used, the more learning was being acquired to benefit all the teams using the power unit but also cautioned that time was tight.

"We have been working alongside HPP in order to get the concept right for 2026 already for many, many months," he added. "So whatever you do, you are going to be six to 12 months behind the three other teams.

"That's quite penalising in the grand scheme of things... there's going to be areas where you're going to be compromising on. There's a tremendous amount of work getting '26 right and the smallest decision on layout can actually have quite a large impact."

- Reuters 

MAX VERSTAPPEN CONFIRMS RED BULL STAY AMID MERCEDES LINKS

 

Max Verstappen won the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona last Sunday. THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images

SPIELBERG, Austria -- After months of speculation over his future, Max Verstappen has confirmed he will remain at Red Bull in 2025, ruling out a switch to rivals Mercedes.

Verstappen has a contract with the team until 2028 but has consistently been linked this year with a move to Mercedes.

The rumours were forged amid tensions at Red Bull earlier this season that stemmed from an investigation into team principal Christian Horner over allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff did nothing to disguise his interest in Verstappen as his team assessed its options to replace Lewis Hamilton, who will leave Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of this season.

As recently as last week's Spanish Grand Prix, the prospect of Verstappen switching teams was raised in the media again, although Wolff said no talks were ongoing with the driver.

Verstappen has been reluctant to give a straight answer on the issue all year, and he initially gave a vague response when asked ahead of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix.

"I think I've said this before. I mean, naturally, of course, people are talking," he said. "But it's most important just that we have a very competitive car for the future.

"At the moment, of course, it's very tight, but we are working very well as a team to try and improve more.

"And for sure, I said this already with the team, we are working and focusing also on next year to try and be competitive again."

Pressed to give a yes or no answer to whether he would be at Red Bull in 2025, he added: "You didn't get that out of my answer before?

"OK, yes, but that's what I said. We're already also working on next year's car, you know. I think when you're very focused on that, that means that you're also driving for the team."

Red Bull's advantage over the rest of the field has shrunk in recent races, although Verstappen has still won three of the past four races and seven of the 10 so far this year.

Asked whether he would look to switch teams if Red Bull continued to lose ground, he said: "I don't think that's how Formula One works, where then suddenly you could say, well, bye, guys.

"You know, it's not how it works. I have a long contract with the team. I'm very happy where I'm at.

"And like I said before, we are focusing also already on next year with things that we can implement on the car."

- Laurence Edmondson, F1 Editor