- 06 Apr 14, 03:46#397716This discussion is at the back end of the Ferrari thread but I don't want to affect any sensitive people there so, more on Toto Wolff here:
Wolff: F1 rule change ideas are "absurd"
After just two races, and approaching the third on Sunday in Bahrain, many criticisms have been aired, with one of the more high-profile dissenting voices being Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo.
The Italian has so far bemoaned the lack of noise, and has described F1 as being more akin to taxi-driving in that drivers are fuel-saving and coasting rather than going flat out.
Di Montezemolo is due to meet F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt at the Bahrain International Circuit ahead of the race to air his views and discuss potential proposals for change.
One of Di Montezemolo's more left-field ideas - one he has revisited after suggesting it back in September 2012 - is to makes the grands prix shorter.
There is perhaps a touch of sour grapes behind Di Montezemolo's thoughts as Ferrari, after spending the past four years being beaten by Red Bull, now find themselves significantly adrift of Mercedes.
The German manufacturer has so far won the opening two races, and, with Nico Rosberg on pole in Bahrain, have made it three in a row.
Defending his team's position, Wolff said: "We are only eight tenths (of a second) off pole from last year (clinched by Rosberg).
"Yet we have a car that is 25 per cent down on downforce, is using much harder tyres, is using 30 per cent less fuel, is heavier, yet has more power, more torque and greater straightline speed, so what are we talking about?
"We are in a brilliant technical revolution and here we are talking the sport down.
"In the UK there is a saying 'doing a Ratner'. Is it because we have an agenda? Somehow I don't get it."
Wolff was referring to Gerald Ratner, who once famously described the products in his jewellery stores as "crap" and ultimately went bust after £500million was wiped off his company's value on the back of that one remark.
The suggestion is Ferrari, backed by Red Bull, will push for change, yet a disappointed Wolff added: "If this is the agenda, we shouldn't totally talk the sport down.
"We should say 'Hold on a minute, Mercedes has done a better job, with their engine more efficient'.
"The rules are the rules, were implemented a long time ago, and if you want to change them then do it for next year, but I don't see that happening.
"There is a framework of technical and sporting regulations, and everybody is aware what they are and if you want to change things for next year you have to do it by June 30. This is the process.
"Some teams are saying they haven't been able to make their car efficient and fast with 100 kilograms (of fuel), so let's add 10 kilograms.
"Effectively they are saying 'Sorry, we didn't do our job in the way we should have done'. I find this whole discussion absurd."
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Makes perfect sense. It's like setting a standard for a bunch of kids in class, and then finding out a few kids are a bit dyslexic so dumbing down the entire curriculum for everyone else to cater to the lower average. What a joke.
Breaking News:Lewis Hamilton has officially overtaken The Fonz in race wins. With 88 races less. Lol(Without a specially built blown diffuser, illegal front wing, preferential treatment)
