Toto Wolff has come down in favour of on-track achievement over more wind tunnel time in F1, though he admitted it is “not one dimensional” as a subject.
Mercedes engaged in a fierce competition with Ferrari for the second position throughout the 2023 season, which extended until the final race. Ultimately, the Silver Arrows emerged victorious over the Scuderia. While securing this placement in the Constructors’ Championship brought Mercedes substantial additional prize money, it also posed challenges for car development due to the existing aerodynamic testing restrictions (ATR) in Formula 1.
The ATR has been a fixture in F1 for several years, granting teams that finished lower in the previous season’s Constructors’ Championship more wind tunnel opportunities to enhance their car development. This measure aims to level the playing field among teams of varying resources. Consequently, there is speculation about whether well-funded teams might strategically aim for a slightly lower position in the standings to capitalize on the additional wind tunnel runs available in the subsequent year.
During Mercedes’ end-of-season review, the question arose regarding whether, given the intense competition with Ferrari, it might have been more advantageous for the team to deliberately finish a place or two lower to gain extra wind tunnel time. In response, Toto Wolff emphasized the multi-faceted nature of the decision. He acknowledged the sporting advantage of securing more wind tunnel time for the following year but highlighted the financial aspect, particularly in terms of bonuses for the entire staff.
Wolff expressed that the decision wasn’t solely about the sporting benefits, emphasizing the importance of considering the well-being and morale of the entire team. He reflected on the mindset aspect, noting that at the beginning of the season, he might have viewed finishing in the third position as less relevant. However, he underscored the significance of the sense of achievement and the positive impact on team morale that comes with securing a higher position in the World Championship standings, such as finishing second. Despite any potential advantages from wind tunnel time, Wolff highlighted the overall importance of considering the team’s collective success and the positive emotions associated with achieving a higher standing in the championship.
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