Toto Wolff thinks about last season's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 'every day'

‘I think about it every day’: Toto Wolff confesses the dramatic end to last season’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is still on his mind… but the Mercedes boss reveals he has ‘made his peace’ with ‘deserving’ champion Max Verstappen

  • Toto Wolff reveals he thinks about last season’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix every day
  • Lewis Hamilton was denied an eight World Championship by Max Verstappen
  • After a late safety car Verstappen passed Hamilton on the final lap of the season 

Toto Wolff has revealed that he thinks about the dramatic events of last season’s thrilling Abu Dhabi season-ending race on a daily basis. 

Wolff admitted he is still scarred by the memories of last season’s disappointing end to what could have been yet another double-championship winning season in an interview with Autotrader, saying he thinks about the race ‘every day’.

Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton was denied a record-breaking eighth World Championship title after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen passed him on the final lap, following controversial decisions from former F1 race director Michael Masi.  

Toto Wolff still thinks about the dramatic climax to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ‘every day’

Wolff told the automative magazine: ‘I think about it every day. But I have my peace with Max winning the championship, because he’s a deserving champion.

‘How it panned out, I think I have values around fairness, and especially sporting fairness. This is what provides my fundamental love for the sport. And then that was kicked with the feet on that particular day.’

Having recovered over the course of last season to go into the final race of the season level on points with the Dutch driver, Hamilton and Mercedes are miles off the pace this time. 

Almost a second per lap slower than title favourites Redbull and Ferrari, Wolff’s team have had to settle for third place – although a recent run of results has seen them close the gap to the Italian side. 

Wolff described Verstappen as a ‘deserving’ winner despite the controversial circumstances

But that is not the only change from the previous year, with Masi being removed from his post as part of F1’s wider overhaul, signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) concerning the events of that fateful race in December. 

The Australian has been replaced by Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas who  control alternate races following a review of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but that has not stopped questions falling at the door of new FIA director Mohammed ben Sulayem.

Wolff said of Ben Sulayem: ‘I think Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the way he’s hiring and recruiting, shows for me direction.

Lewis Hamilton was denied a record-breaking eighth World Championship title at Abu Dhabi

‘Every personality has his edges. And I think the primary objective of being transparent, providing good governance and a good framework is what I see happening.

‘Are there going to be bumps on the road because Mohammed’s organisation needs to fall in place and everybody needs to find their roles? Yeah, for sure. But I’m happy with how’s it going.

‘They are open minded. They’re not opinionated. For me, transparent, honest and have integrity.’

F1 returns from it’s month long hiatus at the historic Belgian GP at Spa on August 26.




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