F1: Wolff satisfied Ferrari/Haas within the rules

“We are all here (in Formula One) mostly because we like to see racing drivers racing each other, gladiators in machines that are fascinating to watch”, added the motorsport director, whose team have won both F1 titles for the last two years.

Mercedes did not directly accuse any team, but the complaint related to the close ties between Ferrari and US team Haas.

In a statement issued at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in response to questions posed by champions Mercedes, they also made clear that Ferrari would face no consequences for their work this year with the new U.S.-based Haas team.

Core to the clarification was whether Haas had been able to feed data or knowledge to technical partner Ferrari since it is not governed by the same regulations until it is classified as an entry. “This is a sport about gaining advantage by interpreting the rules like they did then they deserved it”.

“We just wanted to be rock solid for the future, for us mainly”.

The best hope – maybe the only hope – is for Ferrari to be in a position to mount a serious challenge, and Mercedes have said they are wary of the growing threat from Maranello, but Horner was sceptical. Asked whether Ferrari had perhaps gone beyond the rules in its dealings with Haas, Wolff said: “I don’t think Ferrari operated outside the regulations”.

Wolff, in particular, has no concerns about a possible advantage gained as he said: “This is a sport about gaining an advantage”.

Wolff said his outfit had evaluated the possibility of linking up with other teams to pool aero resource in the wake of the what Ferrari/Haas did. “But again I want to emphasise on the matter that it is about transparent information for all teams about what was within the rules and not, and not at all about pointing a finger at anybody or anything similar”.

“I am comfortable with the outcome because the stewards’ decision gives us clarity and that was the main objective of the exercise”.