SM
Wednesday, December 18
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Wolff may call off planned Suzuka absence

:Headline: Wolff may call off planned Suzuka absence:
Toto Wolff may scrap his intention to skip this weekend's Japanese GP.
Sports Mole

Toto Wolff may scrap his intention to skip this weekend's Japanese GP.

In Singapore last weekend, the Mercedes boss revealed that his planned ultra-rare absence from a Formula 1 race was due to the ever-longer calendars.

"I will start to skip a few races. The whole team needs to look at it," Wolff told reporters.

There was no notable criticism of the Austrian's decision. In fact, most pundits agree with Wolff that the modern F1 calendar, set to swell to 24 grands prix next year, is "unsustainable".

"We don't need 24 races," former driver Christian Danner told Servus TV this week.

"When there is a race every two weeks, you look forward to it. Now it's always like 'What, another race? Are they really racing again?'

"Who wants it? The rights holder, of course. Every event means cash for them."

But it appears that although Wolff wisely selected the odd-for-Europeans timezone of the Japanese GP to miss, he may in fact make the trek to Suzuka.

That is because the controversy about Red Bull's alleged breach of the budget cap could explode in the paddock once again after the FIA issues its compliance 'certificates' on Wednesday.

It is not expected that the results will immediately be made public, but new leaks already suggest that Red Bull's transgression will be deemed minor.

"It's sort of Abu Dhabi popping up again," former Red Bull driver Mark Webber told Channel 4.

"We know what was at stake last year, don't we? So yes, opposition teams are getting on their horse and having a red-hot crack that there might be something here.

"It's up to the FIA now to back up Christian (Horner)'s comments because he says they are barking up the wrong tree," Webber added.

Some, however, insist that draconian penalties including full expulsion from the 2021 world championship remain a possible outcome for Red Bull.

"That would be a huge scandal," Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko told Bild newspaper.

"If necessary, we will take legal action."

The timing for Max Verstappen also couldn't be worse, as he has a very realistic chance of sealing his second consecutive drivers' title this weekend on Honda's home turf.

"I'm not listening to the rumours," the Dutchman told Sky Italia.

"I am confident that the team did the right things." body check tags ::

amp_article__496165 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2022-10-05 07:28:40:
html db last update - 2022-10-05 07:28:40 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Toto Wolff

Click here for more stories about Red Bull

Share this article now:
TW
Read Next:
Wolff insider may have leaked Red Bull breach
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Toto Wolff Mark Webber Max Verstappen Helmut Marko Christian Danner Formula 1
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Wolff insider may have leaked Red Bull breach
'Crazy operation': Arsenal plot 'super exchange' to sign Vlahovic in January
Diallo, Isak and who else? Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

'Crazy operation': Arsenal plot 'super exchange' to sign Vlahovic in January

NEW

1

'O

Wow! Rashford makes stunning claim as clear favourite emerges for Man United star

2

WR

"I have to look out for number one": Napoli's McTominay comments on Man Utd exit

NEW

3

&H

Man City 'to back' Guardiola in January pursuit of midfield duo

4

MC

Preview: Chelsea vs. Shamrock - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PC

Team News: Southampton vs. Liverpool injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

6

TN

Will Rice, Calafiori, Zinchenko play for Arsenal against Crystal Palace in EFL Cup?

7

WR

Explained: European Super League relaunched as 'Unify League'

8

EE

Preview: Rapid Vienna vs. Copenhagen - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PR

Preview: Lugano vs. Pafos - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PL


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .