In China, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton only managed to finish sixth and ninth, respectively. Hamilton blames his car rather than himself. However, team principal Toto Wolff sees it differently.
Traditionally, the Chinese Grand Prix has been favorable territory for Mercedes. At the Shanghai International Circuit, Nico Rosberg clinched the first win for the team in 2012 after its Formula 1 return.
From 2014 to 2017, Lewis Hamilton (3) and Rosberg (1) secured four more victories for the then-dominant team, and Hamilton also won the last race in China for Mercedes.
However, times have changed. Red Bull, led by Max Verstappen, now dominates, Nico Rosberg is a Sky expert in the paddock, and the “marriage” between Hamilton and Mercedes is set to end this year.
The British driver has sought a new partnership with Ferrari, and since then, tensions have risen significantly between the seven-time champion and his former team, led by team principal Toto Wolff.
Hamilton has been vocally critical, not attempting to make his team look better than it currently is. Starting from 18th place and finishing ninth, he repeatedly complained about his car during the Chinese GP, mentioning how slow the Silver Arrow was.
His criticism was so notable that Ralf Schumacher couldn’t help but comment on Sky that such remarks were surely not appreciated in Stuttgart.
Wolff Partially Blames Hamilton for the Debacle in China
The apparent rift between Wolff and his former star driver was evident from the Austrian’s post-race reaction on TV. “Sixth and ninth places are not what we aim for,” the team principal admitted on Sky, partly blaming the debacle on Hamilton. “We definitely set up the car wrong. Lewis dictated a development direction that was so off that the car couldn’t handle the corners.”
Wolff also dismissed the notion that Hamilton’s mishap occurred because he might not be receiving all the updates on the Silver Arrow due to his impending departure.
“The fact is that the role of the driver in the development of the vehicle is overestimated. It’s worse to lose an engineer than a driver. There isn’t much loss of know-how.”
This was another blow for Hamilton, who then had to hear that a new, younger partner would be good for the team. Wolff said, “There are some interesting conversations and options, both short- and long-term. I am looking forward to starting a new era next year with a new driver. Twelve years with Lewis have been incredible, but now it’s time for a refresh.”
Will Russell Bring Mercedes Back to Winning Ways?
Wolff’s statements have effectively shifted the narrative. It’s no longer about Hamilton benefiting from a new environment at Ferrari and escaping the problems in his current team; it’s about Mercedes freeing itself from the burden of the aging superstar.
Wolff must not forget that he needs to fundamentally steer Mercedes back to winning ways. A sixth place for George Russell does not meet the expectations of a Mercedes factory team. An update planned for the next race in Miami aims to address this. “We need to bounce back after such results,” the team principal acknowledged, according to Sport1.
The question remains whether another 19 races with Lewis Hamilton can really help the situation in the team.
