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via Imago
Image Credits: Imago
The Austrian race weekend has been one to forget for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. Nothing went right for the Briton, right from Qualifying to the Sprint to the Main race. A P5 in Qualifying could be the only result to be considered decent, let alone good. The Sunday race was more frustrating for him than disappointing. He was penalized for exceeding track limits. But, when he complained about others exceeding track limits, Team Principal Toto Wolff admonished him. And following that message, there was complete silence on the radio.
On Sunday, Hamilton overtook Lando Norris to get P4 in the 1st lap. Unfortunately for him, Norris had taken up the role of a strict taskmaster. He constantly told his engineer that Hamilton was exceeding track limits. And the FIA made a clear note of the same and gave a 5-second penalty to Hamilton. After that, the 7-time champion had a complete meltdown. First, he told his race engineer, Peter “Bono” Bonnington, “This car’s slow, mate.” Later, he said on the radio, “I can’t keep it on the track, the car won’t turn.”
So Lewis Hamilton didn’t attend post race debrief probably he didn’t like the radio he got back from Toto,you know what’s more awkward !? Lewis and Toto still have to sit to negotiate & sign a new contract,now that will be an awkward room after today😶
— ahmed baokbah 🇸🇦🏎✈️ (@ahmed_baokbah) July 2, 2023
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At one point in the race, he was battling Sergio Perez ahead of him. When he saw Perez’s car go beyond the white lines multiple times, he complained about it on his team radio. After a point, Toto Wolff interjected on the radio and said, “Lewis the car is bad, we know. Please drive it.” After that, there was not a word said by Hamilton on the radio. And surprisingly, it was reported that the British racer did not even attend the post-race debrief. Following such an incident, fans are backing Hamilton to not sign a new contract with Mercedes.
Also, there could be a possibility of great turmoil in the Mercedes Garage after such an incident. While that might not be made public, the unrest among fans is rising.
Fans React to Toto Wolff Snubbing Lewis Hamilton
Ever since the Controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi GP, not a lot seems to be going right for Hamilton. And after the new 2022 car design regulations, Mercedes hasn’t been able to provide a car quick enough for victory. Looking at such unfavorable factors and the disrespectful behavior from Wolff, fans believe that Lewis Hamilton should not sign a new contract with Mercedes. Let us look at what the LH army had to say.
lewis should wait till after silverstone. if the car isn’t competitive, he shouldn’t sign a new contract
— Joey F1 (@joeydiab) July 2, 2023
Scolding your number 1 driver and one of the pinnacles of your success because he’s complaining about a car that still isn’t working after 1.5 years of development. You can’t make this up.
— El Chueco (@burntrubber44) July 2, 2023
I'm a Lewis and Toto person but I'll agree with Peter Windsor that Toto had no right to speak to Lewis like that on the radio,Lewis is allowed to be human after everything he had thrown at him, Lewis still shows up and perform in their mess of a car he deserves better from Toto💡
— Bonita Lisborg (@Howardroak) July 2, 2023
Go on Lewis, stick a spanner in the works and sign for Red Bull 😈
— exiige (@IEXiiGE) July 2, 2023
I dont get Toto's response here.LH asked about penalties for track limits, why did Toto respond by saying we know the car is bad, just drive it…..
— Maliq (@enigmaliq) July 2, 2023
I find myself on LH's side, as it's 2 or even 3 seasons depending how one looks at things w/Mercedes not beeing able to deliver in terms of having the best car + reliability on top of that. 2021 could have gone either way, so many variables, but since then… They've been nowhere
— Manu Korhonen (@ManuKorhonen) July 3, 2023
If only Ferrari had something on the table and Lewis can leave Mercedes. Toto is turning into a total joke https://t.co/oX4BOV3b9M
— goRacing (@Neil_Pule) July 3, 2023
It was an awkward comment by Toto actually, Lewis had every right to be asking… Toto doesn't discourage George when he rattles on over the radio all the time @MercedesAMGF1 https://t.co/oFW3RFyEGV
— Caroline (@changestory) July 2, 2023
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Toto needs to respect Lewis tf https://t.co/CNvDxyNSUl
— sthandwa (@sthandwa_w) July 3, 2023
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The tensions seem to be running high for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. With each passing race weekend, the contract uncertainty increases. And while upgrades for other teams are working out very well, Mercedes is missing out on valuable points.
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