When you hear a sound coming from the Mercedes hospitality area here in Abu Dhabi, it is the sound of stamping feet.
The team that once dominated the sport with serene efficiency is now in a state of collapse. The latest example of Toto Wolff’s thin skin came when he instructed his PR agent to ask me to leave their building ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s press conference.
It seems my main offense was questioning Wolff at the press conference in Las Vegas last week when training was postponed. Wolff denied the obvious embarrassment this brought to the sport’s all-new showpiece event.
I challenged Wolff on this. He lost his cool. In a tirade that earned him a ‘formal warning’ from the stewards for foul language on Thursday, he barked: ‘It’s completely ridiculous! Completely ridiculous! How can you even dare to talk back about an event that sets the new standard for everything?
‘And then you’re talking about a drain that was reversed (the cause of the delay, which ultimately ended the training at four in the morning in front of empty stands). That’s happened before. That’s nothing, it’s FP1.
Toto Wolff instructed his PR agent to ask me to leave the building ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s press conference after questioning the Mercedes chief about the delayed training in Las Vegas
Wolff was perhaps even more annoyed because Christian Horner recalled that someone close to Lewis Hamilton had contacted him earlier this year about a possible move to Red Bull
‘Give credit to the people who put this Grand Prix on, who made this sport much bigger than ever before.’
The telling words, it seems to me, are: “How dare you.” As if what Mr. Wolff says is beyond dispute, every question is an insult to his omnipotence.
In his statement to the stewards, he claimed he had been ‘provoked by an abrupt intervention’. The PR guy demands an apology from me before relations can be thawed. Pompous doesn’t cover it.
But if they want to apologize, they might want to start with one at me for Wolff’s petty tirade at the slightest of provocations – although I’d happily just shake hands and move on.
I believe they were further irritated by the story we told on Thursday in which Christian Horner recalled that someone close to Hamilton had contacted him earlier this year with a tentative inquiry as to whether a seat would be available at the all-conquering Red Bull -Moloch.
That was at a time when Hamilton’s contract negotiations with Mercedes were dragging on. Was the contact made as a negotiating ploy to increase his earning potential where he was? Or did he really want to go to Red Bull?
There was a time when Hamilton’s contract negotiations dragged on, which raises the question of whether the contact made was a negotiating ploy to increase his earning potential.
Who knows, but in Wolff’s eyes I may have committed the cardinal sin of not sticking to a predetermined script. The information must be on Mercedes’ terms and conditions and at a time of your choosing.
My guess is that Wolff, overlooked for the job he wanted to run in the sport for Liberty Media, is bored at Mercedes and lost in his attempts to turn around a team that is a shadow of their glory from the past (and without the freedom of the pre-budget cap days to throw money at the problem).
It seems to affect his judgment and sense of proportion. I hope he gets in a better mood soon.
The schedule needs to be adjusted
It was a blue-eyed tribe that landed in Abu Dhabi, the last stop of 22 in this grueling season.
A 12-hour time difference from last weekend’s race in Las Vegas can only take its toll on the human body. The planning needs to be adjusted.
The five North American races – Mexico, Austin, Miami, Vegas and Canada – should be completed in one or two swings rather than the entire tribe criss-crossing the globe again and again. Tired drivers and banned mechanics are a recipe for accident, and at this point everyone in the traveling caravan is close to the limit.
Abu Dhabi brings a 12-hour time difference with last weekend’s race in Las Vegas
Don’t bring Vegas glitz to Britain
There was a collective sigh of relief among the sport’s top brass as the Las Vegas race emerged as a success after some nervous moments in the days leading up to the main event.
It was perhaps the most entertaining event of the season, even if the name of the winner, Mr. M. Verstappen, was as predictable as possible. Having paid £500 million for the event’s choreography, this was vindication for Liberty Media, the sport’s owners.
While they applaud their initiative, some pleas from the sidelines. The race had Super Bowl-like hype, and rightly so because it was Vegas, but one hopes that Liberty doesn’t live up to the promise they made when they bought the sport in 2017 to make every event a Super Bowl.
What is good for Vegas and Miami, you don’t want at Silverstone. The old airport from the Second World War has its own character, just like all the great old circuits in Europe. They must cherish their individuality. I hope Liberty sees the point in that.
The British Grand Prix has its own character and you hope Liberty doesn’t turn every event into a Super Bowl – which is good for Vegas and Miami is not what you want at Silverstone
Vegas thoughts
A few more Vegas thoughts. Qualifying at midnight is absurd. It gives the organizers no leeway if something goes wrong, as they did in practice on Thursday evening: a finish at four in the morning is no time for sport.
I also noticed that while overhead shots conveyed the atmosphere of Las Vegas, low shots of cars on the track failed in this regard. It could be Jeddah.
Perez to finalize his contract
Sergio Perez has won the second seat at Red Bull, I can reveal that. Despite some hesitations, the Mexican has received the approval of team boss Christian Horner. “It’s 100 percent Sergio’s seat,” Horner confirmed.
This means that Perez will serve out his contract, which still has one year left to run. So there is no dream return to the top for Daniel Ricciardo.
Sergio Perez will serve out his Red Bull contract, meaning Daniel Ricciardo no longer has a dream return
Roulette table journey
I visited the roulette table at the MGM Grand armed with $50. All on red. One spin of the wheel. Fifty dollars gone. I stopped when I was down.
Legendary car auctioned
If you have spare change, you might be able to make a bid on Mario Andretti’s championship-winning 1978 Lotus-Cosworth Ford John Player Special. It’s a star turn at a Bonhams auction in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Estimated value $6.5 million to $9.5 million. But in some ways unaffordable.
Mario Andretti’s championship-winning 1978 Lotus-Cosworth Ford goes up for auction with an estimated value of between $6.5 million and $9.5 million