Wolff hopes F1 learns to avoid ‘oversized supermarket car parks’

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff says Formula 1 should learn from the characteristics of the circuits that were added to the revised 2020 calendar in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Formula 1 visited Mugello and Portimao for the first time while the Nürburgring and Imola returned to the schedule after a prolonged absence.

The circuits were overwhelmingly lauded by drivers, who praised their old-school nature, in particular the grass and gravel that frequently lined the edges of the track.

Formula 1 is planning a 2021 calendar as similar as possible to the original 2020 roster, along with the addition of Saudi Arabia, while the Covid-19-prompted stand-ins will be dropped.

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Wolff nonetheless believes Formula 1 should learn from the circuits that have received popular acclaim.

“I’ve always been very vocal about that I disagree with the direction we have taken on racing on oversized supermarket parking lots because it takes the factor of the driver, his skill, away,” said Wolff.

“Therefore I really like racing in Imola, I like racing in Mugello and the tracks where you really analyse [matters] if you make a mistake.

“I think we need to bring gravel back to make sure [when] you [are] flying off that you can’t rejoin without any damage to your car.

“I think you probably can adapt most of the circuits to that kind of standard but these classic and historic race tracks will always have soul and now you can say that from the modern circuits – Bahrain has a soul also because we’ve been in Bahrain a long time and these guys have been partners to F1 for a long time – but maybe we need to adapt the circuits in exactly the way I’ve described.

“Again, I am not a circuit designer, I am just giving you my feedback from an ex-racing driver and based on the TV pictures that I’ve seen from Mugello, Portimao and Imola.”

Formula 1 is expected to release a provisional 23-round 2021 calendar in the coming days.