MERCEDES chief Toto Wolff has hailed FIA changes after Michael Masi was sacked as race director yesterday.
Masi, 44, was relieved of his duties after his December blunder in Abu Dhabi cost Lewis Hamilton a record eighth championship.
Speaking at today’s new car launch at Silverstone, Merc chief Wolff cut a relaxed figure as he had his say on the ‘more robust structure’ that will now be in place.
He said: “I think it’s very encouraging to see that action has been taken. There is a much-more robust structure now.
“The FIA has stated that there will be a virtual Race Control Room with state of the art technology.
“And the new guys are going to be in place for the Barcelona test and I think the right steps. It is a new era for the sport.”
On his team’s ambitions for this year, Wolff stressed that nothing can be taken for granted.
The 50-year-old added: “The mindset of the team has always been the same over the last few years and that is the point count goes back to zero.
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“There is nothing from the previous years that will make you win the current championship, no credits to be taken, but also no sense of entitlement.
“Like every year we are sceptical whether we’ve done a good enough job. And and that’s the right the right mentality.”
Meanwhile, at the launch, Hamilton finally addressed the retirement rumours that surrounded him for much of the last two months.
The seven-time world champion, 37, said: “I never, ever said that I was going to stop. I love doing what I do, and it is such a privilege working with this large group of people.
“You really feel like you’re part of a team and part of a family, working towards that common goal. There’s no feeling quite like it.
“But yeah…it was obviously a difficult time for me, and it was a time where I really needed to take a step back and focus on being present. I had my family all around me, and creating great moments.
“And I eventually got to a point where I decided I was going to be attacking coming into another season, and working with Toto and George [Russell].
“It’s exciting seeing George come in and bringing his energy. I can already feel that throughout the team. I think it’s going to be an exciting season.”
Mercedes‘ W13 car features a return to silver, as well as a new chassis and body work.
On his new motor, Hamilton said: “It takes you back to being a kid. We’ve never seen such a drastic change as this era of cars, but the team have come together to create hopefully a masterpiece.
“We have no idea how it is going to handle, but he have driven so many laps on the simulator.”
Russell, 24, then added: “It feels incredible, both Lewis and I have driven so many laps in the simulator in this.
“Seeing all the hard work come together here, it looks incredible.”
