Formula 1 criticism has to stop, says Mercedes' Toto Wolff

There have been claims drivers are doing too much fuel-saving and that the cars are too easy to drive, while Red Bull has threatened to quit F1.

Wolff believes that F1 is fundamentally a good sport but it is the duty of its participants to promote it rather than criticising it publicly.

"It's a good sales campaign..." said Wolff of the recent spate of negative publicity.

"If I take my Mercedes hat off and I look at what the spectacle has to offer, I think it is a good spectacle.

"Is it good that one team wins pretty regularly? Maybe not but we have seen that in the past as well.

"We have a duty to Formula 1 to not talk it down. We are all Formula 1's ambassadors.

"By constantly picking the negatives we have got ourselves into a spiral of negative controversy.

"I don't think this is what is good for Formula 1.

"I have read a couple of articles in last couple of days which are really rubbish in comparing it with Formula E.

"I don't want to even go there. We have a duty to Formula 1. It's just my personal opinion."

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton said that while many people have their say on F1, the problem is only a few of those comments are heeded

"I think the problem is everyone has an opinion about Formula 1," said Hamilton.

"Only some people's opinions actually get actioned.

"Whether they're the right ones or not, who's to know?

"But you have to really put your trust and faith that they're going to make the right decision to change it."