Mercedes Formula 1 team boss Wolff fears Mexican GP start mayhem
Mercedes Formula 1 team boss Toto Wolff believes the Mexican Grand Prix start could be chaos given the top three teams line up in reverse straightline speed order
The Red Bull-Renaults of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen fill the front row, with title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel immediately behind them.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner fears that the Mercedes and Ferrari could get the jump on his drivers on the long run to the first corner, and Wolff agreed there could be drama at the front of the field.
"The grid has the potential for carnage on the straight and through the first corners," said Wolff when asked by Autosport about the grid line-up.
"You have the two Red Bulls which have the least straightline speed on the front row, then it's us, and then the Ferraris are obviously almost 10km/h [6mph] up to everybody else.
"I try to visualise how that could look down the straight and through the first corner, and I just hope we come out with two cars intact."
In last year's Mexican Grand Prix Hamilton, Vettel and Verstappen made contact through the opening corners, with only eventual winner Verstappen emerging unscathed.
Hamilton said he would be ready to jump the cars ahead if the chance arose, but stressed that he would not take any risks as he closes on the 2018 title.
"It really depends what position I'm in," he said.
"If I get a good tow and there's an opportunity to overtake, I'm going to take it.
"If there's not, then I'm going to try and hold position.
"I've been racing a long, long time, so it's very rare that I make rash decisions and silly decisions when it comes to those scenarios.
"Also I don't mind those guys [Red Bull] being where they are, because that takes points away from both me and Sebastian so that's OK."
Vettel was cautious about his prospects of jumping anyone ahead - despite having a potential tow from three cars - as he is starting from the dirty side of the grid.
"It depends on the start," he said. "We start on the dirty side, and I don't know how much of a disadvantage it is, but it is a long way to Turn 1.
"Usually the problem is you have no place to go. We'll see how other people's starts are, and how ours is relatively, and then we see what happens."
Previous article
Lance Stroll cleared for second time over same Mexico track offence
Next article
Force India's F1 Mexican GP Q2 tactics didn't feel great - Ocon
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Susie Wolff |
| Teams | Mercedes |
| Author | Adam Cooper |
Why Tsunoda can become Japan’s greatest F1 talent
While Japan's fever for motor racing is well-documented, the country has yet to produce a Formula 1 superstar – but that could be about to change, says BEN EDWARDS
Why the demise of F1's hypocritical spending habit is cause for celebration
For too long, F1's richest teams have justified being able to spend as much as they want because that's the way they've always conducted their business. STUART CODLING says that's no reason not to kick a bad habit
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is not guaranteed
The diva that stole a march on F1’s wide-bodied opposition
In 2017 new F1 technical regulations were supposed to add drama - and peg Mercedes back. STUART CODLING looks at the car which, while troubled, set the stage for the wide-bodied Formula 1 era
The themes to watch in F1’s Imola return
Three weeks is a long time in Formula 1, but in the reshaped start to the 2021 season the teams head to Imola to pick things up after the frenetic Bahrain opener. Here's what to look out for and the developments to follow at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. BEN ANDERSON looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of car-racing titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
