"It is very clear where the line is," says Wolff as Mercedes title-duelling drivers prepare to face off again from Monza front-row; Italian GP live on Sky Sports F1 from 11.30am
Sunday 7 September 2014 15:53, UK
Toto Wolff is confident that there will be no repeat of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton’s acrimonious clash at Spa as the title-chasing pair prepare to square up for victory again in Sunday’s Italian GP.
Having locked out the front-row of the grid for the sixth time in Mercedes’ dominant season in qualifying at Monza, with Hamilton claiming pole for the first time since May, the spectre of both W05s waging a closely-fought duel over the race's 53 laps has cranked up anticipation.
That expectancy is heightened by the fact that the start of the Italian race is perennially one of the tensest of the entire season owing to the fast, narrow straights which lead into tight chicanes, particularly at the Rettifilo and the Roggia.
However, having reminded Hamilton and Rosberg of their responsibilities to the team, and disciplined the championship leader, after the latter broke “rule number one” by tagging his team-mate on lap two at the last race, Wolff isn’t expecting a repeat.
"It is very clear where the line is, so it should be pretty obvious and pretty clear about what is going to happen and I have no doubt this is how the race is going to pan out,” Mercedes’ Executive Director told reporters at Monza.
“We’re going to have the discussion like always, the strategy discussion, and one of the points is going to be what’s happening in the first couple of laps.”
Despite holding a big lead over Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship – 157 points – Wolff is adamant that Mercedes can’t be sure of either world title yet and therefore it’s imperative Hamilton and Rosberg start delivering the big points again with the team having been outscored by their rivals at the last two events.
“You know what Niki Lauda [said], harsh words, the normal Niki words, ‘Once the championships are secured I don’t care if they hit each other’,” Wolff explained in reference to the comments of Mercedes' non-executive chairman earlier this season.
“But I would go one step back and say this is Mercedes and we don’t expect them to crash each other out even if the championship is secured. But as a matter of fact, and I’m a very pessimistic person, that championship is not secured, none of the championships are secured.
“We have seven races to go and this is why we must get our heads down now and get back to score points. We haven’t done that very well in Hungary and in Spa and maybe in two or three races we have a completely different situation and we need a reassessment. Maybe it is then about unleashing the leash a little bit more.”
Sky F1's coverage of the Italian GP begins at 11.30am on Sunday with the race underway at 1pm
