Lewis Hamilton has been phenomenal on American soil. The Briton has won the joint most number of US GPs, and he was hopeful of extending the tally. Moreover, Mercedes was also searching for a victory, as the team has returned to its old struggle since the summer break. Thus, the technical team led by James Allison unraveled an ambitious upgrade plan for the Austin GP.
However, despite a mega package, the W15 appeared to have similar issues. The team’s Saturday qualifying was a nightmare as Hamilton was knocked out from Q1. Later, George Russell also ran into the gravel after spinning at turn 19. Russell was supposed to start the third row despite the crash, but a late FIA investigation sent him to the pitlane. Ultimately, George Russell finished in sixth spot, while Hamilton’s race ended after he oversteered into the dirt. After a disastrous run, Toto Wolff bashed FIA after the irrational penalty.
Toto Wolff Slams FIA For ‘Joke’ Penalty At US GP
The Silver Arrows were deranged after the qualifying session, as Hamilton was sent to the back rows. However, before the Sunday race, the race stewards summoned Russell, and he was handed over a penalty. As per the FIA officials, Mercedes breached Article 40.6 as they did not cover the car two hours after the Saturday session and continued working on it.
Despite the weight of Russell’s penalty, Hamilton took off like a rocket, displaying a magical touch. Sadly, the ambitious run was cut short as the car started bouncing, and the Briton ended up in the gravel. Subsequently, teh safety car was deployed, and Mercedes’ hopes were hinged on George Russell. However, the nightmare was not over yet, as FIA gave Russell a five-second penalty for pushing Valttei Bottass off track.
This harsh decision infuriated the team boss, Toto Wolff, who didn’t hesitate to criticize the governing body. On team radio, Wolff’s emotions echoed: “Total joke with the penalty, George, total joke.” F1 Pundit Martin Brundle supported Wolff, stating that the decision was completely unfair and could be easily used by rivals. Meanwhile, the Mercedes upgrade package was also scrutinized after Hamilton’s bizarre eviction.
Mercedes Insists Latest Upgrade Not To Blame For Austin Crashes
Lewis Hamilton suspected that the upgraded floor edge could be the reason behind W15’s weird bouncing. However, his team feels otherwise, as they insisted it had nothing to do with the update. Toto Wolff denied any fundamental issue with the upgrade. Moreover, he feels it was an aero or a mechanical problem.
Thus, he confirmed the Brackley-based outfit would continue with a similar setup for teh remaining races. Despite the confirmation, Wolff remains open to changes, noting that Russell used July specs due to the absence of a new floor component.