‘Rules are the key DNA of F1’: Wolff calls for clarity after Australian GP chaos

The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, has called for clarity from Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, to eliminate the chaos and confusion that marred the Australian Grand Prix. A number of drivers were highly critical of decisions made during the race, which was stopped three times, and Wolff believes clear definitions of protocols for red flags are required.

Max Verstappen won in Melbourne, but only after the race came to an end behind the safety car. There were three red-flag stoppages due to incidents on track in a race that ran for two and a half hours. The second stoppage was followed by a standing restart when there were incidents involving six cars and the race was immediately halted again.

Verstappen declared the situation a “mess” of the FIA’s own making and noted he could not understand why a safety car or a virtual safety car (VSC) had been used instead of a red flag. Similarly, George Russell called the red flags unnecessary and McLaren’s Lando Norris implied the FIA were making decisions in an attempt to improve the show.

Mercedes’s Russell was unlucky with the first stoppage, having pitted just before it occurred, costing him track position. However, his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, finished second behind Verstappen, Mercedes’s best result this season, and was not disadvantaged by the red flags.

Nonetheless, Wolff said that in each case it was not clear why the race had been stopped and echoed Russell’s opinion that alternatives were available. “Both red flags we didn’t see coming,” he said. “Restarts are a great entertainment factor, but we need to understand going forward when a red flag is being put out and when it is a safety car or a VSC. For those incidents you could have applied either.

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