Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says that Max Verstappen’s interpretation of Formula 1’s driving guidelines will change the way on how every other driver will race in the future.
Max Verstappen has been focus again for his driving. The FIA is set to close a grey area, the Red Bull driver has been exploiting in recent times when defending strongly against attacks from his rivals. The governing body accepted that changes to it’s driving guidelines need to be altered. This comes following a meeting with all F1 drivers at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Revised rules will be implemented at Qatar.
Wolff was first asked about the 20-second time penalty for Verstappen, which he received for two incidents with championship rival Lando Norris at Mexico.
“I guess that’s going to change all of the driving in the future,” Wolff said. “Max has made a lot of these moves, obviously at such a talking point last week, you went through this experience in 2021. Is this going to be enough to deter him from this kind of driving? Or is that just Max?
“A driver will always push to the limit. And when the rules, or the execution of the rules, or interpretation of the rules, allow a certain way of racing, I think a driver like Max is always going to exploit it. And I think now there has been a new interpretation and execution of those regulations, and I think it will change the way everybody races in the future. You won’t see that anymore.”
Then he has been asked about the new driving guidelines. He believes that the guidelines will change, as all drivers want to push the limits.
“I always say that the drivers, or people that have driven in racing cars, they know exactly, and many of you who are experts know exactly what’s happening. When somebody is releasing the brake too late and just drags you into the corner, pushes you wide. From the early days in go-karting, you know that you’re not going to survive on the outside if you’re not ahead.
“So I think the rules are pretty clear and the drivers know. But, as I said before, everybody is trying to push that. And if you get away with things, that is the new limit. So will it change? Absolutely. I think now there is precedent. You got to leave space on the outside of the corner if the car is next to you. On the same height and, you know, braking late and dragging the other car out of the track whilst also driving off-track. I think that’s not allowed anymore. I think it’s good for racing.”
Asked on how the sport developed regarding the driving standards and how the rules are being executed, Wolff hits on the stewarding a few years ago.
“I think back in the day, certain stewards had their opinion that was wrong. Because it wasn’t analysed, it basically legitimated it. Fair enough to every driver who utilises… Who drives within the regs and utilises all the margins that are given to him by a steward.”
