Wolff calls for 2017 regulations to be scrapped

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff wants the 2017 regulation changes to be scrapped as he believes the current rules have brought teams closer together.

While Mercedes has won all three races so far this season, Ferrari has been a threat on two occasions but a strategic error cost Sebastian Vettel a chance of victory in Australia. The Chinese Grand Prix saw the two Ferraris collide and Nico Rosberg enjoyed a comfortable victory, but behind him there were plenty of exciting battles.

With the 2017 bodywork regulations having been agreed upon earlier this year but facing a final sign-off at the end of the month, Wolff believes F1 should stick with the current regulations in order to the performance gap to close.

“We have an important week ahead for the sport, with our final Strategy Group meeting to define the regulations for 2017,” Wolff said. “After three Grand Prix weekends so far in 2016, we have seen that performance between the teams is converging to create great racing.

“Whether we have the reactivity as a group to recognise that and consider retaining a regulatory framework that is working well remains to be seen.”

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.

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