Toto Wolff handed formal warning after ‘unacceptable’ remarks… after the Mercedes chief’s X-rated outburst when defending the Las Vegas Grand Prix over the drain cover farce

• Wolff lost his cool in a press conference over the shambolic start to the event 
• The opening practice was scrapped after Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari his a drain cover 
• Wolff insisted the start was ‘not a black eye’ for F1 and clashed with journalists 

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has been handed a formal warning following his X-rated outburst at last weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Wolff lost his cool in a press conference as he launched a bizarre defence of the shambolic start to the event.

Opening practice was scrapped with just eight minutes on the clock when Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari was damaged by a drain cover at 210mph. Second practice was delayed by two and a half hours as repairs were carried out. The running then took place in front of empty grandstands.

‘This is not a black eye (for F1),’ said the Mercedes team principal. ‘This is nothing.

‘It is Thursday night. We have one practice session that we are not doing. They are going to seal the drain covers and nobody will talk about that tomorrow.’

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has been formally warned for comments at the Las Vegas Grand Prix

Wolff defended the event after a drain cover saw the first practice called off in eight minutes

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has also received a warning for using bad language

A journalist challenged Wolff’s comments as being ‘absolute rubbish’, leading the Austrian, 51, to bark back: ‘Did you ask the question? It’s completely ridiculous, completely ridiculous.

‘How can you even dare to talk badly about an event that sets the new standard? You’re speaking about a f****** drain cover that’s been undone, and that has happened in F1 before. Sitting here talking about a black eye for the sport on a Thursday evening… nobody watches that in European time anyway.’

Wolff was required to attend a stewards’ hearing in Abu Dhabi at 5pm local time on Thursday (1pm GMT) where it was determined he had been in breach of Article 12.2.1.f of the FIA’s International Sporting Code.

In a statement, Formula One’s governing body said: ‘The language used is not consistent with the values defended by the FIA’, describing Wolff’s remarks as ‘unacceptable… particularly when used by participants in the sport who have a high public profile and who are seen by many, especially younger, followers of the sport, as role models’.

The FIA said Wolff argued that he ‘was provoked by an abrupt interjection… and therefore cannot be regarded as typical from this team principal.’

The governing body continued: ‘Considering the mitigating circumstances (of the interjection), the stewards in this case issue a formal warning.’

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur was also warned for using bad language after he swore following the significant damage sustained to Sainz’s car. The FIA acknowledged Vasseur ‘was extremely upset and frustrated by the incident’.

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