The boss of the Mercedes Formula 1 team, Toto Wolff, expressed his frustration with unfounded accusations that Lewis Hamilton is being intentionally harmed by the team. Hamilton, who will join Ferrari next season, has been outperformed by his teammate George Russell in qualifying sessions this year. However, the differences between them have been much smaller than the 1-8 score suggests, and Hamilton still holds an advantage in the race. Despite Hamilton’s cryptic comments about his qualifying deficiency, there is no evidence to suggest that he is being deliberately harmed by Mercedes.
Recently, an email claiming to be from a Mercedes informant was circulated to F1 media figures, as well as senior members of F1 and the FIA. The email alleged that Mercedes was systematically sabotaging Hamilton without providing specific details. Wolff expressed his annoyance with the matter and revealed that the team is taking the issue seriously. They have involved the police to investigate the origin of the email, including tracing the IP address and phone number. Wolff emphasized the need to put an end to online abuse and criticized conspiracy theorists and lunatics who spread such unfounded accusations.
Wolff also highlighted the anonymous nature of the accusations and emphasized that there is a limit to jokes. He acknowledged that Hamilton and Russell have also been targets of online abuse. Wolff vehemently denied the irrationality of claims that Mercedes would harm Hamilton’s performance, emphasizing the team’s desire to succeed with the sport’s most iconic driver. He expressed respect for Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari and confirmed that there are no hard feelings or feuds between the team and the driver.
Fred Vasseur, head of Ferrari in F1 and close friend of Wolff, also commented on the matter. He dismissed the idea that a team with 1500 dedicated employees would intentionally harm their own cars. Vasseur emphasized that teams are constantly seeking to score more points and win championships, making it illogical to suggest that they would intentionally harm a driver’s performance.
In conclusion, Wolff and Vasseur vehemently denied the unfounded accusations that Hamilton is being intentionally harmed by Mercedes. They called for an end to online abuse and emphasized the team’s commitment to success and their respect for Hamilton’s decision to move to Ferrari.
