Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff wants an alternative track configuration at the Yas Marina Circuit after receiving the “most ever sleeping emoji” during the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2020 was a borefest, no one can deny that. Getting through the race without dozing off could be considered an achievement. Clearly, not everyone Toto Wolff knows passed the test, as he received a healthy dose of sleeping emojis during the race.
“The number of messages I got during the race with the sleeping emoji was the most ever.”
“What can we do? I think we need to look at everything. I think it is very difficult to follow in the wake in Abu Dhabi.”
Mercedes’ defeat to Red Bull in the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP was “a slap on the wrist”, according to team boss Toto Wolff
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Toto Wolff suggests an alternative track configuration
The Mercedes team boss was quick to point that the Yas Marina Circuit is a “fantastic venue”. With an “infrastructure like no other”, the problem clearly lies where the action takes place.
Overtaking at this track without the Drag Reduction System (DRS) is a cumbersome task. And to sort out this issue, Toto Wolff has suggested an alternative track configuration. It is only a suggestion, of course, as Wolff maintains “it’s not up to me”. The track has six different configurations, but only one holds the FIA Grade 1 certificate for F1 racing.
“As we saw with [Fernando] Alonso and [Vitaly] Petrov [in 2010] it’s just so difficult to overtake when you have a slower car in front of you.”
“I think maybe it’s worth looking at the configuration. It’s not my business but maybe we could look at a track configuration that would make it a little bit more interesting for overtaking perhaps. But again, it’s not up to me.”
