Wolff demands FIA sit-down talks over "awkward" issue after Verstappen reprieve

03 November 2023 , 08:54

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Toto Wolff has called the FIA to find a solution to impeding in qualifying (Image: Getty Images)

Toto Wolff believes the FIA need to figure out how to solve impeding during qualifying - and he feels speaking to the drivers and directors would be the best way to achieve that.

It comes after Niels Wittich introduced a maximum lap time at the Italian Grand Prix to confirm there were no traffic concerns and the move has been replicated at future races since. Blocking issues had also become a problem as drivers try and battle for the best track position in qualifying.

However, since the maximum lap time has been imposed, drivers have made gaps by standing still between both Safety Car Lines. Max Verstappen was handed a reprimand at the Singapore Grand Prix but race chiefs admitted that was a mistake and he should have been penalised.

Several drivers did similar in Mexico, but once again, no further action was taken. Now, Mercedes' Wolff has claimed the FIA need to clarify the rules to the drivers. Wolff told reporters: "I think the FIA needs to sit down with the drivers and Sporting Directors and ask what is it exactly we want to achieve?

"In the end, fundamentally we don't want any impeding at all, we don't want anybody stuck in the pit lane. So how can we achieve that? I understand it is better to be stationary in the pit lane than to block someone out there [on track] but it still looks awkward. It is not right because some people may not make the lap."

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This weekend is the Brazilian Grand Prix and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to try and close the gap on second-place Sergio Perez. The Englishman is 20 points behind Perez in the Drivers' Championships with three races remaining after Perez crashed out in Mexico.

Toto Wolff has made his feelings clear on the FIA impending issue (Getty Images)

"It's mostly dependent on Checo's [Perez] weekends," Hamilton said. "They have the championship-winning car. He has just been unfortunate in some scenarios. I have lost quite a lot of points in the last two races but he lost points here. Having lost the points last week, I didn't think I would be in shooting range but, after today, we will give it the best shot. It's a bonus if we get second in the drivers'."

Meanwhile, after the Mexico Grand Prix where Hamilton finished second, Wolff said: "I think it was a first where he said 'the car is actually good!' But it was a brilliant, brilliant drive and we have these oscillations in performance. We don't really know, sometimes the tyres stick, sometimes not.

"The smiles on our faces because the car was strong. I think once Lewis was in free air, we had so much margin on the medium, fastest lap at the end. It was good."

Kieran King