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Wolff fears Mercedes will lose superiority - Marko

Published on 21 Apr 2016 10:31
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By: Rob Veenstra

Dr Helmut Marko has slammed a "paranoid" Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff for trying to spoil F1's charge towards faster cars for 2017. It is Wolff who has been leading the charge verbally amid speculation many teams are in fact now opposed to the technical changes that should result in faster and more aggressive cars next year.

One of Wolff's leading arguments is that F1 now has no need to make changes given the three spectacular grands prix so far this season under the existing rules. Red Bull's Marko, however, does not agree.

"We have been very lucky to see very good races," he told motorsport-magazin.com, "but there were no normal races. There were always people coming from behind that actually shouldn't have been behind," Marko added.

And Marko hit back at the suggestion the general mood in the paddock is that F1 should scrap its 2017 plans. "Except for Toto and the teams that must follow him due to their engine contracts, everyone is for it," he said. "(Ferrari's) Sergio Marchionne is also absolutely sure. Only Herr Wolff has this paranoid fear that Mercedes will lose its superiority if you change even the smallest thing on the engine or chassis. Toto Wolff is doing everything he can to prevent any change," Marko charged.

Marko, however, is sure there is now too much momentum for the 2017 plans to be axed. "For us it is clear that the 2017 rules and the so-called 'McLaren package' are coming," he said, referring to the rules blueprint that was devised by McLaren. (GMM)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527

I hope it wont lead to a wider split on the grid. What we've seen so far in 2016 is a very compact grid and even a certain amount of challenges on Mercedes. To say we havent had good races this season is in my opinion incorrect: Australia was really good, but Bahrain was better than that race, an... [Read more]

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Apr 21 2016 - 12:23

F1 News Ferrari Mercedes McLaren

Replies (5)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I hope it wont lead to a wider split on the grid. What we've seen so far in 2016 is a very compact grid and even a certain amount of challenges on Mercedes. To say we havent had good races this season is in my opinion incorrect: Australia was really good, but Bahrain was better than that race, and China was better than Bahrain.
On the plusside: it was McLaren who designed the blueprint for the 2017 rules, so they could very well benefit from these changes... We'll have to see! I just hope this wont lead F1 in the wrong direction!
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- Apr 21 2016 - 12:23
mclarenfan1968

Posts: 1,027
Merc are cowards without talent, they had one fluke of a dominance by throwing money at the problem, now they are scared 5hitless it might not last too long when real talent at other teams do it for lesser budgets. Wolff is a coward hiding behind empty jargon.
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- Apr 21 2016 - 12:56
Vet5

Posts: 225
Agreed! Merc know that the power unit is whats helping them win, they have always had the most powerful PU even when they first entered but were wiped out as other teams had better chassis than them. I can see it becoming a close battle for the championship this year but they will not dominate next year if the rules are changed.
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- Apr 21 2016 - 14:00
khasmir

Posts: 893
I'm no fan of the proposed rule changes for 2017. Adding a lot more aero is not the way to go if you want to make the racing (even) better. Cars will not be able to follow each other closely, it will be a parade of cars in a line just like it was some years ago when they went all crazy with the aero.
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- Apr 21 2016 - 18:54
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  True, but they will increase the tyre width quite substantially, so assuming Pirelli can do their part correctly (and I begin to wonder if they can...) that could very well compensate for the increased aero. And the model they'll be following is a compromise less aero than first suggested, but more than they have today. If they do it right, it could work out. But Im not sure a change is needed in terms of such rules... cost cutting and help to boost the slower teams forward seem much more important.
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  Apr 21 2016 - 19:36