Wolff: Mercedes wants to “bring respect back” amid spat with Red Bull F1

Toto Wolff hopes the statement Mercedes released on Thursday night helps “bring respect back” to the discussion surrounding Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s crash at Formula 1's British Grand Prix.
(L to R): Toto Wolff (GER) Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director and Christian Horner (GBR) Red Bull Racing Team Principal in the FIA Press Conference.
(L to R): Toto Wolff (GER) Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director and Christian…
© FIA Pool Image for Editorial Use

The team issued a statem💃ent on Thursday after the FIA announced it would not be entertaining Red Bull’s right to review the incident from Silverstone.

Mercedes was pleased with the news but hit out ღat its title rivals by stating: “concerted attempt by the senior manageme💯nt of Red Bull Racing to tarnish the good name and sporting integrity of Lewis Hamilton.”

In the Friday press conference at the Hungaroring, 💞Red Bull team boss Christian Horner described Mercedes’ statement as ‘antagonistic’ but claime𝓰d the team had moved on from the incident.

Explaining why Mercedes released the aforementioned statement, Wolff said: “I think we wanted to bring a little bit of respect back to the discussion. We understand that emotions can run high, it’s always a matter of perspective and p൩erception but we felt that that line was overstepped.

“I think the remarks that were made during and after the Silverstone grand prix were just elaborated further in the document. Not always looking at the incident only but gi🅘ving it a wider taste. That was beyond other things, just a step too far.”

Wolff feels that teams should do more to “de-escalate” situations to avoid heightened drama on social me🤡dia.

“I think Formula 1 needs content, and controversy, as long as it is around the sport, can be quite entertaining,” Wolff explained. “But there are certain boundaries we need to respect and the sport should unite and not cre𝕴ate more polarisation, and especially in a sport tꦉhat cannot be proud at that stage yet about its diversity and equality, and we just need to get the words right, and therefore let’s aim to de-escalate rather than to fuel.”

Wolff also revealed that he ha꧂d spoken to Horner just before sitting in the press conference between the t🔯wo practice sessions at the Hungaroring but didn’t give away what was discussed.

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