Lewis Hamilton is in the final races with his iconic Mercedes team. Following this season, the Briton will move to Ferrari, relishing his childhood dreams. However, the seven-time world champion is adamant about ending his decade-long stint on a high note. Even Toto Wolff has expressed that the team wants to give a fitting farewell to an F1 legend.
However, things are not going as planned amid Mercedes technical struggle. Even after two and a half years, the technical team remains clueless about the ground effect regulations. A demo of their confusion was seen during the Austin GP as Hamilton uncharacteristically spun into the gravel. Moreover, both the Silver Arrow racers complained about handling the W15. However, Toto Wolff believes Hamilton’s unfortunate DNF was not his fault, nor does he attribute it to the latest upgrade package.
Toto Wolff Explains Hamilton’s Spin, Questions Russell’s Penalty
Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, commented on Lewis Hamilton’s incident, asserting that the issue was entirely with the car, not Hamilton’s driving. Wolff explained that Hamilton wasn’t even pushing at the time and pointed to external factors such as wind and dirty air as contributing factors. Referring to a similar incident with George Russell during qualifying, Wolff emphasized that while Russell may have been pushing too hard, both instances showed the car losing control abruptly. He reiterated that Hamilton doesn’t typically lose the car in such situations, highlighting a problem with the car’s handling rather than driver error.
Wolff also addressed the five-second penalty handed to Russell after a clash with Valtteri Bottas. Russell, who started from the pit lane after a qualifying crash, aggressively overtook Bottas under braking at Turn 12. The stewards deemed Russell to have forced the Finn off the track, resulting in the penalty. Wolff expressed frustration, calling the penalty “odd and bizarre,” especially when similar incidents in the sprint race went unpunished. Despite this setback, Russell finished sixth place, salvaging crucial points for Mercedes.
As the season enters its final phase, Mercedes remains fourth in the constructors’ standings, trailing Ferrari by 152 points but comfortably ahead of fifth-placed Aston Martin by 258 points. Wolff acknowledged the stewards’ challenging role, praising their efforts and noting the inconsistencies in their decisions.
Mercedes’ Unable To Fathom’ The Misstep From The Latest Austin GP Upgrade
Speaking on The Race Podcast, journalist Mark Hughes reflected on Mercedes’ struggles compared to those of its rivals, particularly highlighting their inconsistent performance in the current era of Formula 1 regulations. He pointed out that despite arriving at the Circuit of the Americas with a significant upgrade to the W15, the team’s results were far from what they expected.
Hughes explained that Mercedes’ car showed flashes of speed during Friday’s sessions, giving hope that they might turn things around. However, the team’s fortunes had plummeted by Saturday without a clear explanation. The only noticeable difference between the two days was a slight increase in track temperature, but this small change shouldn’t have caused such a dramatic drop in performance. The weekend became a frustrating ordeal as the team struggled to match the pace of its competitors.
Despite the challenges, George Russell delivered a commendable performance, driving from the pit lane to finish in sixth place. However, Hughes noted that this result was far below the standards Mercedes had set for themselves. These modest gains felt underwhelming for a team of their caliber, especially considering the expectations surrounding the upgrade package.