F1 News: Toto Wolff Fuming Over Mercedes W14 Floor Being Revealed After Monaco Crash

The Mercedes chief isn't happy with how his car was handled during Saturday's Practice Sessions.

Unexpected drama took centre stage at the Monaco circuit when the Mercedes W14, driven by Lewis Hamilton, crashed into a barrier at Mirabeau during Free Practice 3. Marshals, forced to intervene, used cranes to lift the car high above the circuit, allowing the floor to be viewed by everyone. Toto Wolff, Mercedes' team principal, found a touch of humour amidst the mayhem, joking that the crane operator must have worked for "Cirque du Soleil".

The Monaco circuit, known for its tight bends, necessitates cranes for vehicle recovery - the traditional methods such as a tow truck simply take too much time. Unluckily for Mercedes, this recovery technique meant their recently-introduced parts were hung high in the sky for all to scrutinise.

Exposing the underbelly of the W14, including their newly designed floor fences, was far from ideal for Mercedes. Wolff didn't hide his frustration about this unintentional display, worrying that it provided rival teams a close-up view of their newest designs, a luxury usually kept under wraps.

"Whoever performed the crane has probably worked for Cirque du Soleil before," Wolff shared with reporters. He added, "The car was on the road, you could have put it on it on a truck and rather [than] that you’re showcasing the car to everyone in the world. That was sub-optimum for us, to say the least.”

Despite his disappointment, Wolff maintained his professional stance

“Everybody’s doing the best and I don’t want to be a team principal that lashes out on stewards that are doing their job.”

Following the crash, the Brackley squad sprang into action, repairing the W14 in time for qualifying. This allowed Hamilton and his teammate George Russell to battle for positions in Q3. Come Sunday's race, Hamilton started from P6 and Russell from P8.