Toto Wolff gives an update on the COVID-19 situation with Lewis Hamilton as F1 contract talks are put on hold and answers on George Russell’s impact and more.
The F1 circus were shocked earlier on Tuesday with the news of Hamilton testing COVID-19 positive, putting him on the sidelines for the Sakhir GP weekend. He is also in doubt for the 2020 finale in Abu Dhabi, especially with the quarantine rules.
Hamilton has mild symptoms and is not feeling that great as per Wolff. They are keeping a check on daily basis and hoping that he tests negative and can compete in Abu Dhabi – it will still be tight as the regulations there is of one-day hotel isolation.
His 10-day isolation in Bahrain ends on Thursday, which is when he can travel to Abu Dhabi, where he is likely to isolate for a day. Even if he can compete in Abu Dhabi GP, it maybe that he ends up missing the Friday practice sessions.
“I don’t know if he was watching the practice sessions, he has better things to do than watching,” said Wolff. “He’s recovering. I think those first few days are always critical once you catch Corona. I think he’s OK. He was symptoms but they are relatively mild. We have seen tests that were negative within ten days, so I think that is perfectly feasible, in my opinion but it would be a very positive development.
“Nevertheless, you need to look at the situation anyway because there is many athletes that have tested positive for a long time after any symptoms and after they’ve been in any way infectious – but this is something the FIA needs to look into anyway,” summed up Wolff, as he noted that Hamilton didn’t need permission to travel around after reports of him being in Dubai – before Bahrain – surfaced.
“Lewis doesn’t need to have any permission,” said Wolff. “He rides anything he wants, he jumps out of every aeroplane he wants because he knows best what’s good for him and he’s a grown-up man and it was never an issue. I think contracting Covid-19 is something that we are all not very sure where you get it.
“If you ask Mario Isola where he got it, he’s probably not going to know where. It’s just unfortunate. He was protecting himself a lot and then you go to Dubai, wear your mask all the time and come back with Corona. These things happen,” Wolff added. Moving on to the contract situation, the Austrian noted talks have been put on hold.
When pressed if Russell’s performances can be used a negotiation too, Wolff categorically put it down. “The timeline of contract is being pushed back until he recovers,” he said. “We know that we need to get it done, pretty well aware, both of us but the priority now is him getting back on his feet and being back negative. And then we will meet, or Zoom, in order to put pen to paper.
“We’ve discussed having George in the car. We know what we have with Lewis and he knows what he has with the team. Such a situation would never be utilised as some kind of bargaining power, neither by him, nor by us – it could do both directions. I respect very much who he is, how he drives, his records, and whatever happens this week or next has no influence on our talks,” summed up Wolff.
Even though Wolff denies the negotiation chance, it certainly gives Mercedes a good idea of Russell and if he can still deliver a 1-2 result for the F1 team in future. The German outfit will have to think about their future line-up too after Red Bull and Ferrari. Having the Brit in the car is a welcome challenge for them after a monotonous work.
But Wolff noted that, while, they have Russell in the car, they also have to keep in mind that Hamilton is fighting a virus which can take away life too. “There is no buzz, because Lewis is ill with Corona and we’d rather him not be ill but here with the team,” he said. “Of course, we rate George highly and giving him such a possibility is, in a way, interesting.
“But with hindsight I’d rather have everything normal, as it was, because George anyway one day is going to make it into a good car. Also, Lewis knew who the candidates were and who we were talking. I think those very special drivers they see and know who is going to come up and who one day could be up there for victories and championships.
“I think is priority is now to get healthy. I’m not sure he is going to follow in detail what is happening on track. If you are in bed and not feeling great, racing becomes a second priority,” summed up Wolff. While it was a gain for Russell, it was heartbreak for Stoffel Vandoorne, who missed out on yet another chamce.
He could have had four F1 races till now in 2020. Granted Racing Point wasn’t a direct link but Mercedes was, which troubled him the most. “Stoffel is our reserve driver and has done the grunt work, simulator and travelling to the grands prix, and has the capability of driving these cars very well, there is no doubt about that,” said Wolff.
“Telling him that George was in the car was certainly not something that I took easy and I didn’t expect him to be excited about it. He took it professionally and expressing his, let’s say, reactions that were totally legitimate and he’d rather be in the car than not and that’s understandable. He’s a great guy. He is one of our two works drivers in Formula E. He’s been really good last year, particularly towards the season end, and we count on him in Formula E,” summed up Wolff.
Here’s what George Russell said ahead of Sakhir GP weekend
