DECEMBER 7, 2016

Wolff not ready to drop Hamilton tactics issue yet

Mercedes is yet to close the chapter on Lewis Hamilton's controversial driving in the closing stages of the Abu Dhabi title finale.

With boss Toto Wolff said to be considering sanctions for the Briton, team chairman Niki Lauda claimed this week that management have in fact "drawn a line under it".

"We have no problem about how he raced in Abu Dhabi," said the F1 legend, referring to how Hamilton ignored team instructions and backed teammate Nico Rosberg into chasing rivals' cars.

Team boss Wolff, however, is in fact not quite ready to draw a line under the episode.

"This is still a subject that we have to discuss internally," he told the German news agency DPA.

"But after the events of recent days, the issue does not have the same priority," Wolff admitted, referring to Rosberg's shock decision to quit the team and F1.

"One thing, though, is certain: next year we want to advance our values, our racing philosophy, and from this point of view we have a lot to learn from what happened in Abu Dhabi," he said.

"In the next few weeks, we'll put our heads together to have a good starting point and, above all, a clear situation for both drivers," added Wolff.

(GMM)