Toto Wolff raised some eyebrows about his statement regarding Lewis Hamilton and his F1 future, but it isn’t as extreme, as Max Verstappen chips in.
During his long press brief, Mercedes’ Wolff kind of dropped a bombshell when talking about Hamilton and the emotions he is going through after the end of 2021 F1 season. The Brit has so far attended the knighting ceremony and also a team meet.
He skipped the FIA Gala and has largely maintained social media silence when he is always active on Instagram. The public appearances is a good sign, but to break the silence if he chooses to speak up or share his feelings or when he does, one can only wait.
What Wolff said matched the situation as the Austrian noted how hurt Hamilton was after the finale. He did question his future, but in the larger context the Mercedes F1 chief seemingly noted that he is not likely to pack his bag just yet.
It is on the hope side for Wolff for now. The two are in discussions on a daily level, but the Austrian is not barging into his personal space. Hamilton did sign a multi-year contract for the new era in 2022. For now, he should be there but it won’t be a surprise if he hangs in some years to come as age catches up.
State of Hamilton since Abu Dhabi –
Wolff: “Lewis and I are disillusioned at the moment. We are not disillusioned with the sport, we love the sport with every bone in our body and we love it because the stopwatch never lies. But if we break that fundamental principal of sporting fairness and authenticity of the sport, then suddenly the stopwatch doesn’t become relevant anymore because we are exposed to random decision making. That is clear that you may fall out of love with. That you start to question if all the work you have been putting in, all the sweat, tears, and blood, can actually be demonstrated in terms of bringing the best performances on track, because it can be taken away randomly.
“So, it is going to take a long time for us to digest what has happened on Sunday. I don’t think we will ever come over it, that’s not possible. We will never overcome the pain and the distress that was caused on Sunday. And certainly not him (Hamilton) as a driver. I would very much hope the two of us and the rest of the team we can work through the events. We can with the FIA together and with F1 utilise the situation to improve the sport going forward. But he will never overcome the pain and the distress that was caused on Sunday.”
Handling at human level, Hamilton stays or not –
Wolff: “From a human level it is so difficult because it is so disappointing, as I said before we love this sport and suddenly you start questioning. I mean you must never lose the big context of life, this is just F1, it is just a sport, much worse things happen out there. And we shouldn’t fall into the trap that this is the most important thing in the world but it is our little micro-cosmos and it is a micro-cosmos that we have been part of and where we have created values and beliefs. And many of those values and believes were kicked on Sunday.
“So, I would very much hope that Lewis continues racing, because he’s the greatest driver of all times. He, when you look at it from the point of view of the last four races, he dominated them on Sunday, there wasn’t even a doubt who won the race. And that was worthy of winning the world championship. So, we will be working through the events over the next few weeks and months and I think as a racer his heart will say I need to continue because he’s at the peak of his game. But we have to overcome the pain that was caused upon him on Sunday. Also, because he is a man with clear values and difficult to understand that has happened.”
How much in touch –
Wolff: “I am in a daily dialogue with him. But I respect that there is not a lot to talk at the moment. Each of us copes in their own way with the feelings we have at the moment. I just need to do the utmost I can to help him to overcome these imminent feelings that he has in order for him to return strong with a love of the sport and trust in the decision-making of the sport next year. And we wish very much that this would be the case.”
While Wolff discussed about the situation with Hamilton and what he does in time to come, Red Bull’s Verstappen was at ease and thought there is no reason to give up as the Brit has been through a lot in his career and achieved a lot and do a lot more too.
The Dutchman understood the immediate feelings of Hamilton, but didn’t feel sorry as how the race panned out, things were not in their control and the drivers did what they could. “I mean, of course, I can understand that the first few days after a race like that, you’re not happy,” said Verstappen.
“But you should also understand, like I said before, that this is racing at the end of the day, and these things can happen to you. And I think he should just look back at what he has achieved already. That should give him a lot of comfort and should also be that drive to just keep on going, because he is still trying to challenge for that eighth title.
“And, for sure, he can do that again next year. So I don’t see any reason why to give up or stop now. I don’t feel sorry for Hamilton, but I can understand, of course, that it can be very painful. But, at the end of the day, that’s racing as well. You have to just keep fighting until the end. And you know, that in racing, anything can happen. I mean, he also won a championship like that. So I think he can understand as well,” summed up Verstappen.
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