Toto Wolff offers ‘as simple as that’ solution to Middle East F1 travel dilemma

Toto Wolff has delivered a "as simple as that" message to members of the MotoGP and F1 paddocks who do not want to travel to the Middle East.

MotoGP is racing in Qatar this weekend, with major uncertainty still in the region with the Iran War, despite most riders said to be against taking part, and the Yamaha factory team withdrawing completely from the event.

F1 is not due in Qatar until the weekend of November 28th-30th, with the season set to conclude in Abu Dhabi on December 6th, with F1 insisting that both races will go ahead, following the official travel advice of the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). 

This currently does not advise against travel to the region, only informing those who do to take precautions and have alternative travel arrangements in place.

Offering his latest take on the situation, Wolff declared that if somebody did not want to drive or ride in the Middle East, they simply shouldn't go. 

"Stefano [Domenicali] and Mohammed [ben Sulayem] have been pretty clear about the situation: Formula 1 follows the international guidelines," Wolff began to media, including RacingNews365.

"That is travel restrictions, airlines not flying, any warnings in the region, the kind of feedback that local governments are making, so not only the promoters, but what the local governments are making, and this is what you need to rely on in my opinion, and I'm fully with that. 

"I think that if [MotoGP] riders stand up, that geopolitically knows nothing about what's going on, but have the audience that listens, I think that is something that creates media value, but I would have done the same that MotoGP management has done. 

"'Do you want to ride or drive?' If you don't want to, don't go.'  It is as simple as that, and everybody can make their personal decisions on that, and I respect that. 

"Of course, you've got to be wary of what's happening in the next few days and few weeks, and Stefano has his finger on the pulse to monitor that. 

"If things were to get more dangerous, and we would get that feedback, then he's going to be the first one, together with Mohammed, to protect the people who were meant to travel, and so that's why I'm following their guidance on what I'm hearing."

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Internally at Mercedes

The Austrian then went on to talk about the internal dynamics around the situation at Mercedes - where he indicated he would not hold any grudges against any team member who did not want to travel. 

"Internally, it hasn't been raised. It hasn't been a topic, but if someone feels he doesn't feel comfortable, he or she doesn't feel comfortable in travelling, then it's something that I would always respect, and maybe that's an opportunity to give somebody else a chance," Wolff said.

"It wouldn't change anything for the relationship. I've always respected that, that some people don't want to go to certain grands prix, and that's how I see it at the moment."