Breaking news
Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP
Wolff elaborates on Bottas radio message during Q3
Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff says his radio message to Valtteri Bottas in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix came after they agreed to support each other more.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Dec 12, 2020, 3:29 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Shortly before the final runs in Q3 for the F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Wolff was heard giving Bottas a message of encouragement with: "All you have Valtteri."
Such in-session communication between the team boss and drivers is not usual, with Wolff normally only getting involved if there are difficult matters to sort or post race messages.
However, explaining why he spoke to Bottas in such a way this time, Wolff said that the change of approach had come after the Finn requested a bit more of an open dialogue.
"It's always tricky when you talk to the driver before qualifying or the race," Wolff told Sky F1. "But it's something we discussed. And he said, I need a little feedback from you, it is always good."
Read Also:
- Wolff: Bottas has "unconditional support" from Mercedes
- Bottas accepts "I need to be better" after recent run of F1 form
- Bottas: "Very easy" to criticise my performance against Russell
Wolff said he had felt in the past that giving such messages would only serve to distract the drivers, but said a chat between him and Bottas had highlighted that sometimes encouragement could be beneficial.
"It's difficult because I've never talked to the drivers, because I felt that from my experience it is a bit distracting. But everybody's different and with him we had a good talk.
"Obviously, when the championship was lost, it's always difficult to cope with it. And that's why he said, let's talk a little bit more."
Bottas explained that in the wake of a tricky Sakhir Grand Prix, he and Wolff had had a lengthy chat about things.
And during those discussions he had made clear that there were times when perhaps he would be helped by feeling that there was more support around him.
"He can always talk to us if he wants," said Bottas about Wolff''s radio message. "The last days, we've had a chat about different things, and we're a team. We support each other if we feel like.
"And if you can support another person in the team with encouragement or certain words, you do it. It would be the same for any team member. Nothing more than that, it's a more personal thing."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Leclerc "disappointed" after failing to replicate Q1 pace
Next article Alonso says R25 runs showed what F1 is missing
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1 Dec 31, 2024
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1 Dec 31, 2024
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Dec 28, 2024
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Valtteri Bottas
Colton Herta qualifies for F1 superlicence as Valtteri Bottas remains bullish on 2027 seat
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
7 d
Colton Herta qualifies for F1 superlicence as Valtteri Bottas remains bullish on 2027 seat
Cadillac to investigate high-speed Mexico GP failure that led to angry Valtteri Bottas reaction
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
11 d
Cadillac to investigate high-speed Mexico GP failure that led to angry Valtteri Bottas reaction
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
Formula 1
Canadian GP
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
Latest news
2027 Formula E drivers and teams: The line-up so far
Formula E
FE Formula E 13 min
2027 Formula E drivers and teams: The line-up so far
Kimi Antonelli meets Italian president Sergio Mattarella
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 35 min
Kimi Antonelli meets Italian president Sergio Mattarella
How Qatar red flag helped Johann Zarco put Barcelona crash behind him
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 h
How Qatar red flag helped Johann Zarco put Barcelona crash behind him
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe