Wolff and Horner criticise F1 radio clampdown

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has called for another rethink of Formula One radio restrictions after Nico Rosberg received a penalty following Sunday's British Grand Prix.

Published : Jul 11, 2016 13:36 IST , Silverstone

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg
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Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has called for another rethink of Formula One radio restrictions after Nico Rosberg received a penalty following Sunday's British Grand Prix.

Rosberg crossed the line in second behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton but was later demoted to third, hit with a 10-second time penalty after being deemed to have received illegal assistance via team radio

The German faced gearbox issues in the closing stages of the race at Silverstone, receiving radio instructions from Mercedes to help combat the problem before it became terminal. 

However, under new restrictions on radio communication implemented this year, the instructions were deemed to have breached those rules. 

"We said we are just about to have a failure, and we wanted to communicate it and we couldn't. So you see those rules may need a rethink," Wolff said.

"It has to be dry and clear between the FIA and the teams to maybe go more into detail what's allowed or not.'' 

"Because not communicating at all when you could just block the radio off and throw it out of the car, I think this is part of driving for a long time but it's just to be discussed."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who saw Max Verstappen climb up into second as a result of Rosberg's penalty, believes the punishment could see other F1 teams tactically break the rules in future races.  

"I think the [radio] rule is rubbish," Horner said. "It doesn't make a great deal of sense but the rules are the rules, and on two counts it sounds like instructions were given that breached that protocol.''

"One was the switch change that was made and on the second, was the instruction on how to drive the car with the seventh gear issue that they had.''

"What will be interesting to see is the precedent that the stewards now come up with, because if if it just a five-second penalty or a reprimand, then it is all fair game for the rest of the year.

"There will be loads of messages that will take into account whether it is worth five seconds or not, or a reprimand to give to the car.''

"What will be interesting to see is the precedent that is set by Charlie [Whiting] in the stewards because [the FIA] made it very, very clear – explicitly clear going into this weekend – what their expectations were."

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