Wolff compares Ferrari clash to Hamilton-Rosberg years

Toto Wolff says he can "so relate" to Fred Vasseur's situation at Ferrari, where Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc clashed on the opening lap of the Mexico City Grand Prix. Leclerc ran across the grass at Turn 4 while disputing the lead, rejoining ahead of his teammate and demoting Hamilton behind Max Verstappen. Hamilton criticised the five-second penalty given to Leclerc and said the team had "big, big problems" over team radio.

Wolff drew a parallel with his own management of Hamilton and Rosberg at Mercedes between 2013 and 2016, a four-year period that ended with Rosberg's retirement days after winning the title. He said strong drivers with competitive edges often make such situations difficult to manage under media scrutiny. Vasseur met Hamilton and Leclerc in São Paulo the following Thursday to clear the air.

Wolff suggested the tougher moments could serve a purpose, arguing that the Mercedes incidents made clear where the limit lay. He said escalation can remind drivers of their responsibility to the team and the many people who work for it.