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.”
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.”
