Wolff urges F1 community to 'pull together' amid current crisis
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes that unity and solidarity will help Formula 1 surmount the challenges that have come about as a result of the global coronavirus crisis.
The pandemic has disrupted life in all parts of the world, delivering a bundle of challenges that are leaving no economy or industry unimpaired.
Formula 1's calendar is in disarray while the sport has been forced to delay the introduction of its 2021 regulations to help teams cope with this year's anticipated massive revenue shortfall.
In an open letter released on Friday, Wolff expressed his obvious disappointment with F1's current state of affairs, but also put into perspective the sport's importance in light of the threat that lingers on our health.
"We all love racing. Whether you support silver or red, pink or yellow, orange or blue – what unites us is our passion for racing," wrote Wolff.
"So, the prospect of months without F1 just as the season was about to start, after months of hard work to be ready for the new campaign – that prospect might be disappointing.
"After all, we were all looking forward to hearing the engines roar, to seeing the most sophisticated cars being pushed to their absolute limits, to watching the best drivers in the world fight tooth and nail on track.
"And yet, we must also realise, that racing is entertainment. We take it very seriously, because we love it. But in the grand scheme of things, it is by no means essential.
"The health and wellbeing of our fans, our team members and society in general, however, is.
"As a team and as a sport we must do everything we can to keep our people safe and minimise the risk of spreading the virus. We fully support the decisions taken yesterday [Thutsday], and we will work closely with F1, the FIA, the local promoters and our fellow teams to find the best answers for our sport in the coming months."
Despite the gloomy outlook for F1 in the near term for F1, Wolff has elected to take a positive stance and draw on the sport's sense of unity and Mercedes' own energy to navigate the troubled waters.
"At its very best, sport has the power to not just entertain, but to unite us," added the Austrian.
"Many of us have great memories of watching races on TV or at the track with our family and friends.
"In the next weeks, that unity is best celebrated in our homes and away from the public; not through direct contact, but rather through video calls or social media.
"In the coming weeks and months, we’ll have to adapt to new challenges, but we’ll approach those with the same energy and determination to those we encounter on track.
"We will not be silent but embrace our creativity and use our platform to be a positive voice in the F1 community.
"To you, our fans, team-mates, partners, and rivals, it’s by pulling together that we’ll get through these challenges ahead.
"Please stay safe, follow expert advice, make sure you keep your distance – and keep washing those hands."
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