Mercedes W09 launch: Toto Wolff would take a chainsaw to F1’s new halo

Mercedes have unveiled their car for the new Formula 1 season but team principal Toto Wolff isn’t a fan of the halo device that’s been introduced for 2018.

The halo cockpit safety system, which is designed to protect drivers from flying debris and crashes, will feature on all F1 cars. Speaking at the Silverstone launch of the Mercedes F1 W09 EQ Power+, Wolff didn’t hold back when asked about the halo. He said: “I’m not impressed with the whole thing and if you give me a chainsaw I would take it off.

“I think we need to look after the driver’s safety, but what we have implemented is aesthetically not appealing and we need to come up with a solution that simply looks better.

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“It’s a massive weight on the top of the car. You screw up the centre of gravity massively and, as much as it is impressive to look at the statistic that you could put a bus on top, this is a Formula One car.”

Mercedes chief Wolff was joined at the W09 unveiling by team drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

When asked about his Mercedes contract, world champion Hamilton told the Daily Mirror that he was hoping to sign a new deal before the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia on 25 March.

Hamilton said: “Toto knows that I know there is no one better so he’s not going to be looking anywhere else. And he knows that I know that there’s nowhere else better so I’m not going to be looking anywhere else.

“So we’re comfortable and we’re committed to each other. It’s just about talking out the details. Hopefully we’ll have something done before the first race of the season.”

In pictures: Mercedes W09 EQ Power+