Toto Wolff’s Ego Blamed for Failure as Lewis Hamilton’s Demands Get Shunned, Ex-ferrari Boss

Mercedes’ showing this season appears to be running on the same track as their 2022 performance, with only a sprinkling of podium finishes to its name. Despite their phenomenal resources, incredible history, and drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes seem to be grappling to understand their car. Despite sharing the power unit with McLaren – who are riding a wave of success – Mercedes’ struggles largely stem from not quite mastering the car’s design. And as the 2024 season comes knocking, there’s a rumbling F1. The roar of engines is now accompanied by whispers and speculations. A titan faces an uncertain path ahead, and a former insider has quite a bit to say.

Mercedes‘ ongoing struggles have ignited discussions across the F1 community. In a candid chat on his YouTube live session, ex-Ferrari boss, Peter Windsor, weighed in on the current state of the Mercedes Formula 1 team and their potential performance next year. Here’s what Windsor had to share when Glenroy Heath posed the question: Are Mercedes in trouble for next year?

Windsor shed light on Lewis Hamilton’s frustration, recalling an instance where Hamilton seemingly wished for the team (or Toto Wolff shall we say, he’s the boss after all) to take cues from competitors like Red Bull. To be blunt, “Change your car” is what Hamilton wants to say to the Mercedes garage (much like Christian Horner did).

Peter speculated that Mercedes would prefer charting its course rather than mirroring Red Bull’s strategies, suggesting, “From the minute it was obvious that Mercedes were in trouble, that they would never, ever copy Red Bull. They would always go their own way, and do their own thing, and that’s what they’ve always done. When Red Bull got into the whole high rake thing, Mercedes went the other way, and it’s the same now. “

However, merely attempting to emulate Red Bull’s design wouldn’t be a straightforward task. Given the intricate details and subtleties in car designs nowadays, such an endeavor would be challenging, even for a powerhouse like Mercedes. He concluded, “Even if they did sort of build a Red Bull without really knowing what they were doing, they’ve still got to understand the car and make it work.”

Read More: Ex F1 Team Boss Accuses George Russell of “Selfish” Game Against Lewis Hamilton

While the car has got its problems, the men of the Silver Arrows have got some issues of their own. After all, it’s called a motor race and they went motor racing…

George Russell’s “Very British” outburst: A Mercedes Duel in Japan

The good ol’ British understatement! While the serene tea gardens of Japan’s Suzuka Circuit might’ve seen many a race, none have been quite like the recent tête-à-tête between Mercedes’ dynamic duo – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Second in the Mercedes pecking order, George Russell was, according to Anthony Davidson, likely “fuming” as he raced his legendary teammate not once, not twice, but a whopping three times during the Japanese Grand Prix. Yet, true to form, Russell was ever the Brit, exuding politeness even in his frustrations. After all, it isn’t a true British complaint unless it ends with a “thank you,” right?

The race witnessed its fair share of edge-of-the-seat moments as Hamilton and Russell played a risky game of cat and mouse, even narrowly avoiding a crash. Amid heated radio exchanges, Russell, not exactly chuffed with Hamilton’s maneuvers, quipped, “Who do we want to fight here? Each other or the others?” That’s one way to serve tea!

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But while there’s harmony in the Mercedes camp, for now, Davidson predicts potential future cracks. Should the two racers find themselves vying for the Drivers’ Championship, the gloves could very well come off. Because while driving for the team is crucial, let’s face it: personal glory has its allure.