Not everyone was on the same page about the FIA’s technical directive on dolphins when Saturday’s Formula One team boss meeting in Montreal got heated.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff lashed out at the others for “pathetic” behavior, adding that they were guilty of “background manipulation.” Based on BBCit was a “fight with Christian Horner of Red Bull and Mattia Binotto of Ferrari.”
“The principle of a team trying to manipulate what is said to maintain a competitive advantage, and trying to play a political game when the FIA is trying to find a quick solution to at least put the car in a better position, is dishonest.” he said later on Saturday, per Reuters.
Horner in particular has been outspoken about his thoughts on dolphins and interventions. In case you missed it, the FIA issued a technical directive last week to Formula One teams after drivers raised safety and health concerns regarding the dolphins they’ve had this season, particularly in Baku. Regulatory bodies acted quickly, feeling “it was necessary to intervene to get the team to make the necessary adjustments to reduce or eliminate this phenomenon.”
“Ferrari presented its position on the TD and Toto campaigned for a regulatory change—which is a bit ironic because the car looks pretty fast. [during Sunday’s race in Canada] with less bouncing,” said Horner, per ESPN. “And I think it just showed him clearly that maybe the problem is within rather than everyone’s problem.”
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The team boss was then asked if it was good for Netflix to record the meeting. The crew is shooting footage for the next documentary season Drive to Survive.
“I think there was a theatrical element going on in the meeting,” replied Horner, per auto sport. “So maybe with Lewis’ new movie coming up, he’s in to
Part of the directive, issued Thursday, allows for a second gap between the floor and the car’s main bodywork, which Mercedes was the only team to run during Friday’s practice. It was removed for third practice, qualifying and the Canadian Grand Prix.
Horner said: “What was very disappointing was the second visit because it had to be discussed in a technical forum and it was very biased to resolve the issue of one team, who were the only team that came up here with it before the game even started. td. So do that one.”
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