“Don’t Consider Myself a Leader Within Mercedes”: After Publicly Reprimanded by Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton Unmasks Harsh Reality With Thunderous Statement

Lewis Hamilton is one of the most popular and influential figures to come out of the world of Formula 1, possibly ever. The Brit has won an unprecedented 7 championships but has every record to his name. However, it is his actions off the track that makes him such a popular figure. His charity work and activism for social causes is what truly sets him apart from the rest of the grid. His work off-track also showcases his leadership qualities. However, despite such qualities and a decade-long relationship, Hamilton made an eye-opening confession about his reality at Mercedes.

It could be the public reprimand that Hamilton received during the Austrian GP from Toto Wolff. Or it could be the rising tensions that built up to the reprimand, including and not limited to the stalled contract extension talks that have made Hamilton question his standing in the team because according to his comments in the latest episode of the F1: Chequered Flag podcast, Hamilton confessed he doesn’t feel like a leader at Mercedes.

“I don’t consider myself a leader within the team. I honestly feel everyone has an equally important role so I generally feel like a link in the chain. But I want to make sure my link is as powerful as it can be so that whichever link you’re connected to can also be strong and vice versa. Ultimately, I try to be the best that I can be within the team in terms of how to deliver on the track,” said Hamilton.

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There might be tensions between Wolff and Hamilton at the moment. However, before the contract situation and the cold messages, Hamilton credited Wolff’s leadership as the only reason for the incredible 15 championships in the past decade.

Lewis Hamilton considers Toto Wolff as the ultimate boss and a true leader responsible for Merecedes’ success

Hamilton won six of his seven championships at Mercedes, helping the team rack up eight in the process. This incredible output made Mercedes one of the best teams not only on the grid at the moment but of all time. According to Hamilton, it was because of Wolff’s leadership the hunger was always alive within the team all throughout.

Hamilton said, “He is very focused as a leader on improving people and make them calm. I don’t know of any other leaders, at least among those I’ve worked with, who go and say, ‘Hey, how are things at home? How can I help you, so that you have more time with your wife, husband or partner, children, so that you come to work and are happier and want to try harder?”

“This is what Toto is. So I guess that’s why there’s a lot of hunger within the team,” he concluded.

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There might be some tensions between the two, but these feelings are temporary as there is utmost respect for each other between the two. No money talk can break such a relationship.