Mercedes confirms it voted against qualifying races

The idea of ​​seeing qualifying races in F1, with a starting grid proposed in the reverse order to that of the world championship ranking, flew away a few days ago after the last meetings of the thinking heads of the discipline.

The fault of a contrary vote of two teams, including Mercedes like the lawyer on the sidelines of the Mexican Grand Prix Toto wolff, Team Principal of Mercedes-AMG F1.

“I did it because we have a responsibility to preserve the DNA of F1, underlines the Austrian. It didn't seem like a good idea, not to preserve an advantage, because that might have been good for us.

Ferrari would have been behind us when you look at the current qualifying pace. But I voted against it, because in the 100m final at the Olympics, Usain Bolt doesn't start five meters behind, just to have an exciting finish. »

Enough to reduce the ambitions of Liberty Media, which had even proposed at least three rounds to serve as a full-scale test: Paul Ricard, Spa and Russia.

We will therefore have to rely a little more on the change in technical regulations in 2021 to hope to see the cards redistributed, as Ross Brawn, Director of Motor Sports at Liberty Media, hopes.

Discover the full report and analysis of the Mexican Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Mexico City, in issue 2240 of AUTOhebdo, available now in digital version, and on newsstands tomorrow.