2 Years in a Row, Lewis Hamilton Defends F1 Star From Toto Wolff’s Fiery Rant in Borderline Controversies

The Dutch GP Quali took an unexpected twist as Lewis Hamilton found himself in a precarious position once again. As the rain poured unpredictably over the Zandvoort circuit, the Dutch GP held promises of excitement and surprises, and qualifying did not disappoint. As the session unfolded, a particular incident involving Yuki Tsunoda emerged, raising questions about whether Tsunoda’s actions cost Hamilton a spot in Q3. For 2 consecutive years, there seems a recurring dynamic that involves Hamilton stepping in to defuse potentially explosive situations as Toto Wolff‘s fiery comments added fuel to the fire. But was Tsunoda truly to blame for Hamilton’s missed opportunity to advance to Q3?

Amidst the pelting rain and the anticipation of a drying track, Hamilton failed to secure a spot in Q3, leaving him visibly disappointed. However, the spotlight turned to Yuki Tsunoda, whose alleged blockage of Hamilton led to murmurs of controversy. Tsunoda found himself under scrutiny after Hamilton’s exit from Q2. Tsunoda’s positioning on the dry racing line at the exit of Turn 13 seemed to obstruct Hamilton’s flying lap during the drying conditions. Toto Wolff expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, “the impeding is just a disaster in Q2 and I think on this quickest lap, he was impeded by Tsunoda going into the final straight and that cost the position.”

Wolff emphasized that Hamilton’s pace throughout the weekend had been impressive and that he could have secured a better position in Q3 if not for the obstruction. The FIA subsequently penalized Tsunoda with a 3-place penalty. The penalty means that Tsunoda will drop from 14th to 17th. Nevertheless, Hamilton while talking to the press deftly deflected the blame, stating, “A few of the others got in the way on previous laps, Tsunoda was in the way a little bit, but he didn’t make me lose any time.“ With this concise statement, Hamilton downplayed the impact of the incident, signaling his resilience even in the face of setbacks.

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It was a statement that captured the essence of the controversy – an obstruction that, while present, may not have overtly hindered Hamilton’s lap time. But the drama of the Dutch GP seems to echo a familiar narrative from the past. As the qualifying session at Zandvoort unraveled, memories of a similar incident from the previous year resurfaced, suggesting a pattern of controversy.

Yuki Tsunoda’s Dutch GP controversy ft. Lewis Hamilton

Yuki Tsunoda’s involvement in last year’s Dutch GP after a VSC incident potentially favored Max Verstappen over Lewis Hamilton. In 2022, Tsunoda’s untimely stoppage during the race led to speculation about the role of the VSC in aiding Verstappen’s victory. Toto Wolff, openly voiced suspicions, hinting at the possibility of orchestrated disruptions behind Tsunoda’s stoppage. Toto Wolff expressed suspicions, he stated, “If we were to fight for a championship, that would be something I would closely look at.”

Lewis Hamilton, despite being on the receiving end of the controversy, defended Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri against accusations of foul play. Hamilton acknowledged that while the incident was unfortunate for his team, he did not believe there was any malicious intent behind Tsunoda’s stoppage. He emphasized, “No one expected the race to unfold that way when we were so close to a win. But it’s important to us that we continue to spread love and empathy towards the hardworking teams in the paddock.”

What are your thoughts on Tsunoda impeding Lewis Hamilton?

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