Wolff: "Clash will not affect Rosberg contract talks"

  • Published on 04 Jul 2016 14:35
  • comments 2
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Although furious after Sunday's Austrian grand prix, Toto Wolff said events at the Red Bull Ring will not affect the contract negotiations over a new deal for Nico Rosberg. Before Rosberg was penalised for running teammate Lewis Hamilton off the track in a last-lap incident that cost Mercedes a certain one-two, team boss Wolff had flagged a likely new multi-year deal for the German beyond 2016.

But Red Bull chief Christian Horner thinks the latest run-in between the warring silver-clad duo shows that the German squad's driver lineup may now be "untenable". Wolff agreed that yet another collision between the pair was "disrespectful" to the more than 1000 people who build Mercedes' cars. "It needs to end," he said. "It seems that talking doesn't bring us any further."

Wolff was referring to the spectre of team orders, telling German television Sky: "If they show they cannot understand how to race the car, we will have to think for them. Nothing has been decided but all possibilities are on the table."

But Wolff insisted that although Rosberg is yet to sign a new contract, Sunday's events will not affect the contract negotiations. "We all need to cool down a little and solve this before Silverstone," he said. "But what happened today has no influence in our long-term planning with Nico."

Wolff also told the Finnish broadcaster MTV: "I can say clearly that it will not affect the negotiations at all. Nico and the team are seeking a long-term solution. Every good relationship has its difficult moments and this is one of them," he added. (GMM)

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • ianf1

    Posts: 185

    So if Mercedes introduce team orders, all that will happen is that they will collide at the start (Spain) or the lap before the golden lap number where they are not allowed to overtake after.

    Or the drivers will ignore the order.

    Either way, they might try to impose something, but it won't stick and one of the drivers will get fired.

    • + 0
    • Jul 4 2016 - 15:17
    • Risk

      Posts: 4

      Or possibly both. If Mercedes-AMG maintains their edge in car performance an entirely new lineup may yet be possible. Hamilton, the caricature, was effective for only so long from a marketing standpoint. His abusive style on and off the track would only ever have made him a bad trend, growing more noisome over time. Not to mention the malcontents and ill-informed, low-life, chav fanbase he brought with him. Rosberg's intelligence and stature never seemed to serve him fully on-track. His marketing value wanes, albeit buoyed by his ability to promote himself and the brand in nearly six languages.

      At some point it may make more sense for Mercedes-AMG to put forth a new driver team. Perhaps one newer driver and one former champion: Alonso - Wehrlein?

      • + 0
      • Jul 4 2016 - 19:58

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country DE
  • Date of b. Jun 27 1985 (39)
  • Place of b. Wiesbaden, DE
  • Weight 71 kg
  • Length 1.78 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar