F1 News: Mercedes Chief Hits Out At Teams Exploiting Williams' Shortcomings

Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff has hit out at the teams which are using Williams' request to develop their out-of-date infrastructure to benefit themselves.

Mercedes CEO and team principal Toto Wolff has hit out at other teams who have jumped on the "bandwagon" to make personal gains after Williams team principal James Vowles requested more capital expenditure allowance to develop the severely out-of-date facilities.

Vowles joined Williams at the beginning of the year and very quickly realised how behind the times the facilities were. So, like Aston Martin did for their new wind tunnel, Vowles has requested to breach the cost cap to develop the infrastructure. 

The request was on the agenda for the F1 Commission meeting last week and Wolff revealed that other teams were using the request to try and get more allowance for themselves. 

During an interview with Motorsport.com. Wolff explained:

"It's unfortunate and it's disappointing, frankly, that we're in a situation where again, that meeting, I would argue, went round in circles if nothing else.

"And to a certain extent, it will do, because everyone in that room wants to make sure that they're not losing out relative to everyone else."

The Mercedes chief went on to confirm that he feels only one team needs the help - Williams.

"Why the Capex discussion came up is that a team, Williams, said their infrastructure is sub-par and they wouldn't be able to catch up with trivial things like machine equipment, and up to the technical things like simulators. That was the starting point of all discussions.

"Then, as a consequence, some teams jumped on that bandwagon to say, but actually, we would like to have a little bit more capex.

"And that number went up from $50 million to $60 million, $70 million, $90 million, and suddenly, it was like free reign and why don't we change the Capex levels? But there is no reason to do that. I think there is one team we need to treat differently than all the others."

He continued: 

"We came up with a list. Some of the big teams said we don't want a list, and if Williams get stuff, we want to have stuff. And that was simply shut down.

"We need stability of regulations, on financial relations. And you need to be able to have a business plan that is valid and not a free rein every two years where we change the goalposts on capex.

"So that's why this was the end of the capex discussion, but maybe we will find a solution for Williams."