WOLFF ADMITS HE MISHANDLED 2016 TITLE-DECIDER BETWEEN HAMILTON AND ROSBERG

Toto Wolff now admits he botched the 2016 Abu Dhabi finale, when Lewis Hamilton deliberately slowed the pack to back Nico Rosberg into traffic. Hamilton needed to win with Rosberg outside the podium to steal the title. Mercedes radioed him repeatedly to pick up the pace — a public scolding that Wolff now calls unnecessary micromanagement.

Hamilton won the race. Rosberg finished second and claimed his first championship, then retired from the sport immediately despite signing a fresh two-year contract earlier that season.

"Looking back, I wish I had the 10 years more experience I have today," Wolff said. "There's a few things I would have handled differently and maybe avoided some of the controversy."

The team principal also pushed back on favoritism claims, citing a conversation with Alain Prost about the Senna years at McLaren. Prost blamed shifting allegiances for the toxicity. Wolff says he learned from it — whether his drivers agree is another question.