Mattia Binotto and Christian Horner have been isolating Toto Wolff regarding latest TD
Follow Us
Christian Horner, Toto Wolff and Matia Binotto
The FIA’s new technical directive has drawn mixed reactions from the teams. Mercedes are, understandably, elated, but Ferrari and Red Bull are less enthusiastic. Both Christian Horner and Mattia Binotto have made their disappointments (and displeasure) known at the FIA’s attempt to counter the effects of porpoising on the driver’s health.
Aside from some short-term provisions made by the FIA, the blog post also included: “In addition to these short-term measures, the FIA will convene a technical meeting with the Teams in order to define measures that will reduce the propensity of cars to exhibit such phenomena in the medium term.”
The announcement came on Thursday, just before the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. While it would not be implemented till Silverstone, perhaps suspiciously to some, Mercedes were able to bring in a new floor for the practice sessions, which was in compliance with the regulations.
On this, Helmut Marko had said that Mercedes must have had insider information: “Otherwise you can’t explain what happened.” Allegedly, Toto Wolff, Mattia Binotto, and Christian Horner were all involved in a heated argument regarding this technical directive, with the Ferrari and Red Bull team principals in an angry exchange of words with Toto Wolff.
Christian Horner and Mattia Binotto are in staunch opposition to the new technical directive
As the Red Bull and Ferrari team principals have made abundantly clear, they are certainly not pleased with the new technical directive, and Christian Horner even feels that the FIA favors Mercedes with it. Horner said: “What was particularly disappointing was the second stay because that has to be discussed in a technical forum. It is overtly biased to sorting one team’s problems out, which were the only team that turned up here with it even in advance of the TD.“
He also added that the impetus was on Mercedes to sort out their porpoising woes by themselves and that while Mercedes have said that other drivers (aside from Lewis Hamilton and George Russell) have also complained of porpoising, the Red Bull drivers have never complained of it being an issue. Of course, Red Bull do not seem to have much porpoising at all.
Mattia Binotto was not happy either. Talking about the FIA’s new technical directive, Binotto said: “On the TD, our position is that it is not applicable, and it is something we mentioned to the FIA. The reason it is not applicable is that a TD is there to clarify regulations or to address policing but it is not there to change the regulations. You cannot change the regulations through a TD.”
According to Leo Turrini on Quotidiano, Toto Wolff seems much more isolated now as compared to the past. The two current title rivals, Red Bull and Ferrari with their team principals are in agreement in their opposition to the technical directive, while Wolff is very much in support of the FIA’s steps. Christian Horner and Mattia Binotto have been supporting each other in recent press conferences, and it looks as if they are united against Toto Wolff.
Also Read: “You cannot change the regulations” : Mattia Binotto blasts the FIA for controversial TD
Stay Updated!
Aniket Tripathi
(1002 Articles Published)