Breaking: Lewis Hamilton: Toto Wolff sorry for Mercedes’ ‘INEXCUSABLE…read more.
Lewis Hamilton: Toto Wolff sorry for Mercedes’ ‘INEXCUSABLE…read more.
Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, expressed his deep frustration and apologized to Lewis Hamilton following a disastrous qualifying session for the final race of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton, who has been a dominant force in Formula 1, found himself in 16th place on the starting grid after being eliminated in Q1, marking the third time in the last six races he faced such a setback.
The day had begun with optimism as Hamilton showed strong performance during practice, consistently placing in the top five. However, the team’s mismanagement during the qualifying session proved detrimental. Wolff attributed the early exit directly to the team’s poor timing in sending Hamilton back onto the track. He was released too late, which forced him into heavy traffic, compromising his chances of advancing.
Hamilton’s bid to progress into Q2 was ultimately thwarted when he encountered a loose bollard on the track, which had been knocked out of position by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas. The debris became lodged under Hamilton’s Mercedes, negatively impacting the car’s downforce and overall performance. Wolff did not shy away from acknowledging the team’s responsibility, stating, “We totally let him down,” and labeling the mistake as “idiotic” and “inexcusable.”
Expressing his disappointment, Wolff remarked on how rare it is for him to feel so disheartened about the team’s performance. He emphasized that it was particularly painful to see Hamilton, a driver who has significantly shaped the team’s legacy over the past 12 years, exit so early in the qualifying round. He noted, “Our most valuable racing driver ever, the most valuable and greatest driver of this sport goes out in Q1 because we make a mistake.”
As a result of the qualifying errors, Hamilton’s hopes for a final podium finish with Mercedes now seemed unattainable from his position on the grid’s eighth row. Despite the setback, Hamilton maintained a philosophical outlook. He acknowledged the unfortunate turn of events, stating, “Just my luck, but it’s ok.” Hamilton reflected on how well the car had been performing, especially earlier in the day when he had been third fastest in practice
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