Reuters
Formula One F1 – Portuguese Grand Prix – Algarve International Circuit – Portimao, Portugal – April 30, 2021 Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff talks in the Team Principals Press Conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Portuguese Grand Prix – Algarve International Circuit – Portimao, Portugal – April 30, 2021 Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff talks in the Team Principals Press Conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS
Mercedes had to endure another painful weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas failing to score a single point. Team principal Toto Wolff went through a roller coaster of emotions as he saw Hamilton take the lead after the restart only to fall down to 15th in a matter of seconds.
Bottas crossed the line in 12th place while Hamilton had to settle for a disappointing 15th. Since the current points leader and Lewis’ title rival Max Verstappen crashed out of the race, Baku didn’t have any effect on the drivers’ championship fight. However, Sergio Perez’s race win increased Red Bull’s lead in the constructors’ standings to 26 points.
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Toto Wolff experiences all emotions at once as Lewis Hamilton went off
Wolff was thrilled to see Hamilton attacking the leader Sergio Perez, but the happiness was short-lived. As Lewis overshot the turn, going into the run-off area of the track, he fell from second to fifteenth, so did Wolff’s emotions.
Almost crushing his headphones out of anger, Wolff said, “Yeah… Nooo! no, no, no, no, no!”
Watch Story: Toto Wolff Swears, Valtteri Bottas Bares: Funniest Moments From Drive to Survive
How will this affect the championship for the Silver Arrows?
After a disastrous single-digit points haul from Monaco, the Azerbaijan GP only added to Mercedes’ wounds, as both Hamilton and Bottas failed to score any points for the team.
As it stands, the Brackley-based squad have 148 points to their name while title rivals from Milton-Keynes have 174. Mercedes quickly need to learn from their mistakes and come back stronger in the next race, if they want to have a chance at winning their eighth title.
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan – June 5, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton reacts after qualifying in second position Pool via REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
The team hope to bounce back in the seventh round of the championship, which takes place in France. They will keep their fingers crossed, because another points-less Grand Prix will only dig a deeper hole for Mercedes, possibly killing their title hopes this season.
Do you think the Brackley-based squad will bounce back and take the lead back from Red Bull? Or is it too late now and their rivals have taken off with their title hopes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
