Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says pleasure at Lewis Hamilton’s cost to fourth within the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was tempered by annoyance that he ought to have been within the victory combat.
Hamilton was participating in his last race weekend for the Mercedes staff after a 12-year stint that had netted six drivers’ titles and 84 victories.
However hopes of a profitable send-off, after some promising tempo in apply, was derailed in qualifying when Hamilton hit a bollard that had been thrown into the monitor by Kevin Magnussen within the closing levels of Q1.
The unfastened cone obtained caught beneath his automotive and, badly affecting his aerodynamics, meant his lap was ruined and he did not make it by to Q2.
After beginning sixteenth, Hamilton confirmed sensible velocity and tyre administration on another technique within the race to seize fourth place on the ultimate lap after a spectacular overtaking transfer on team-mate George Russell.
Whereas that end result offered an uplifting send-off for Hamilton and Mercedes after some struggles in current occasions, Wolff mentioned that he couldn’t get it out of his head that with out the dangerous luck with the bollard, the seven-time champion ought to have been proper on the entrance.
“I all the time attempt to be analytical and, if the bollard hadn’t been in our manner yesterday, I believe Lewis might have fought for the victory,” mentioned Wolff.
“On the opposite facet, one thing he mentioned to me is that we’ve got had so many race victories, a lot success, that these final races, they do not change something of how we really feel.
“He drove like a world champion immediately. From P16, working his manner slowly by the automobiles, taking part in the lengthy sport after which ending in fourth, driving away from the Purple Bull. That was an announcement of a world champion.”
Mercedes’ pre-race estimations had pointed to Hamilton ending sixth, however he was helped on his manner by a gap nook collision between entrance row starter Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen.
Wolff added: “Earlier than the race, the most effective estimate was P6. On pure tempo and medium tyre to medium tyre with Lando, he was two-tenths slower. However clearly with Lewis’ site visitors state of affairs etcetera, we might have been proper up there.”
The ultimate farewell
Whereas Hamilton has taken half in his last race for Mercedes, he’ll now participate in a lot of sponsorship and promotional appearances as a part of a winter farewell tour earlier than he’s launched to Ferrari.
However Wolff mentioned that after such a very long time collectively, the bonds between them will finally by no means be damaged.
“It has been 12 years,” he mentioned. “It’s not solely the longest driver-team relationship the game has ever seen; it’s most likely additionally one of many longest relationships that any sports activities staff had with a participant.
“It has been one of many longest relationships we’ve got had personally with one other particular person and that creates attachment, and belief. And people values, at the present time, are uncommon.
“That is why it’s a time frame that we are going to all the time maintain near our hearts and the most effective intervals that I’ve personally had with the staff.”
Wolff mentioned that he and Hamilton would make each effort to attempt to preserve their relationship sooner or later regardless that they are going to turn into rivals from 2025.
“We mentioned we’re going to work onerous on sustaining the connection,” he mentioned. “It will be fierce competitors on the monitor but when people need a relationship to proceed past competitors, we are going to accomplish that.
“We are going to nonetheless be doing our sports activities classes the place we’re each aggressive, and attempt to beat one another; or experience a motorcycle, have dinner collectively and all of these issues.”
Pictures from Abu Dhabi GP Race
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Jonathan Noble
Formulation 1
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
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