F1: Mercedes boss pleased Ferrari challenge is keeping Bernie happy
Toto Wolff says that the recent close races between Mercedes and Ferrari have been good for the sport – and have served to keep Bernie Ecclestone happy.
Mercedes came under pressure after Australia when the likes of Christian Horner called for the team to be “reined in,” but since then Ferrari's progress has made the competition a lot closer.
“For the commercial rights holder it's important not to have one team running away with the championship,” said Wolff. “And having close battles for the lead, because utmost a battle for the lead is what's interesting for the spectators. And we had more of that today (Sunday at the Bahrain GP) and we had more of that in Malaysia.
“We tend to be between very lows and very highs. I wouldn't say now everything is solved. We had a good race, and I think the sport is in good shape, and today we saw that. Two teams fighting with the knife between the teeth for victory.”
Meanwhile Wolff admitted that keeping Lewis Hamilton on board – and away from a rival like Ferrari – was essential: “Of course Lewis is a factor, an exceptional guy in the car. Like always in life it needs to be a win-win situation, and at the moment it is a win-win situation.
“We have a very quick guy in the car, and a we have a very quick car. We have solid foundations in the team, we have built an organization which can be successful on a sustainable base long term, with the challenge of Ferrari bouncing back very strongly.”