Wolff confirms: 'Such a dangerous action will now be punished'

"If those two drive next to each other through the first or second corner, there could already be a touch", the Mercedes team boss fears in an interview with Sky Germany. According to Wolff, Valtteri Bottas should mainly do his thing from pole position without thinking about Hamilton in the process. "They race at the start without getting in each other's way. If Valtteri is in the lead, then he is in the lead. Then we start thinking about how to maximise the points for Lewis over the course of the race."

"We've looked at all the starts from the last few seasons. Quite difficult to analyse what is right. Are you giving each other slipstream? Or are you trying to make yourself wide? I think everything will turn out differently in the race anyway."

Wolff confirms new rule

Some say the front row of the grid is not the optimal position in Mexico, and Hamilton may not get away as well on the dusty section. "Very difficult to say. I don't know if it was Austin or Turkey, but they also said that side was worse and that was absolutely okay", Wolff responded.

One thing is certain according to the team boss: pushing to the left, as Sebastian Vettel did against Hamilton in 2019, will not be allowed this time. "That was discussed before the race with Masi and the sport directors. Such a push on the straight is not only dangerous, but would also result in a penalty today", Wolff confirmed.