Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted that he got “triggered” by Red Bull at the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
In Baku, Wolff branded Red Bull team boss Christian Horner a “windbag” as tensions mounted between the two rivals over the Silver Arrows’ complaint that they were breaking F1’s rules on flexible wings.
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The spat between Mercedes and Red Bull entered a new chapter at the British Grand Prix, with the Milton Keynes-based team calling on the FIA to review the collision between Sir Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
And, following the FIA’s decision to reject this request, Mercedes accused Red Bull of trying to “tarnish” Hamilton’s integrity and character.
Looking back at what he said in Baku, Wolff said he was “annoyed” and vowed to ignore “noise” from Red Bull in the future.
“I got annoyed in Baku, and that is not something that’s normally happening to me,” Wolff said in an interview with GP Fans.
“On reflection, I want to concentrate my focus on the team and on myself, rather than be distracted by noise.”
Asked if he consulted other members of Mercedes’ senior management and took onboard their advice, Wolff said he “always listens.”
Continuing, the Austrian said: “And that is important because sometimes you just need to look beyond your nose. That is just me.
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“Baku wasn’t ‘back away’, I just got triggered. In the end, I am not interested anyway in chatter.
“Whatever is said or written, it is just distracting. It has the potential to distract you, and I don’t want to be distracted. I just want to look, I just want to look inside.”
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