Wolff conflicted over Mercedes' supremacy... sort of

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As the man at the helm of the Mercedes AMG F1 team, Toto Wolff is obviously satisfied with his outfit's success, but as an F1 fan he admits the sport needs "variability".

After five years of domination of Grand Prix racing, sealed and stamped with five consecutive Constructor and Drivers' titles, Mercedes' supremacy shows no sign of abating.

Indeed the Silver Arrows secured in Barcelona its fifth clean sweep of the season, a result that has put the German team 96 points clear of Ferrari - its closest rival - in the championship and isolated Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas at the top of the drivers' standings.

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Mercedes' performance is a testimony to the manufacturer's excellence, but its sovereignty - while nothing new in F1 - has undoubtedly instilled a sense of monotony and fatigue among the fans, a feeling Wolff fully understands.

"I'm in an awkward position," said Wolff.

"Actually, I'm not in an awkward position. I'm in a pretty clear position, because we're really trying to perform as well as we can.

"We pushed the benchmark and we push the needle and we try to be better as a group every single day and every single year.

"This team coming together with the struggles that we had in the winter is just a super satisfaction for the team and the group and this is what my personal feeling is."

However, as a mere spectator of the sport the Austrian acknowledges the fan community's grievances towards F1's current state of affairs.

"Then on the other side if I take myself out from my Mercedes standpoint and all of the group, of course as a fan you want variability and unpredictability," he said.

"We all enjoyed Liverpool coming back as strong as they did and Spurs making it against all odds. I had the laptop on my knees watching the game when we saw Liverpool beating Barcelona.

"As a fan and as a spectator, I can relate to the sport needing to have a certain variability. But where we are, it can't be an objective for us.

"I also feel that it's bad karma if we were to really think that we are walking on water - then next weekend you're going to get one in the face for sure."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.