Wolff "will not interfere" with Mercedes strategy calls

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has insisted that he "will not interfere" with any Mercedes strategy calls that are going on.

Wolff admitted following the Russian Grand Prix that he was a distraction to chief strategist James Vowles during a vital time in the race and there was a mistake with Lewis Hamilton wasn't called into the pits early enough.

This enabled Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to get ahead and Hamilton's tyres to receive more damage.

Wolff referred to a fatal Polish military plane crash in Russia, back in 2010 - using that as an example of what can happen when strategists are distracted.

"It was two very, very experienced fighter pilots that were flying the plane, and they aborted two of the landing attempts because the fog was too thick and there wasn't an automatic landing system at the airport," Wolff told Motorsport.

"When they were thinking about what to do, the head of the air force came into the cockpit and says, 'we are landing.' He overruled the two pilots because he's higher up the hierarchy. And they landed, executing his order, and killed people. They knew better.

"So when our plane flies in qualifying and in the race, James flies the airplane and all I can do is comment and give him feedback and input but ultimately it's his decision what to do.

"He's in command and at that moment even though from my ranking, I'm higher up. But I will not interfere. It is his call in the end."