The Chinese GP weekend brought a rare moment of delight within the Mercedes camp when Lewis Hamilton clinched a podium finish in the first Sprint race of the season. Thanks to a chaotic rain-hit SQ3, Hamilton was able to secure a front-row start, helping him achieve this feat. However, team principal Toto Wolff downplayed the seven-time world champion’s achievement.
Wolff spoke to the media about Hamilton’s P2 result in Shanghai but didn’t credit him much. He felt that Hamilton got the podium as a result of what happened behind him throughout the race.
“I’m not happy. Of course, we had a good car today. However, Hamilton also benefited a lot from the fight behind us.”
This is our Team principal by the way ♀️
️| Toto Wolff to SkySports Germany#ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/CB9PqJNIWL
— Hamilton Insights (@LH44_insights) April 20, 2024
Wolff’s post-race reaction was grim and not well received. Mercedes’ season so far has been dismal and the P2 finish was their best moment. Still, Wolff chose to laud external factors instead of his own driver who needs confidence to get his season back on track.
Additionally, Wolff and Hamilton are known to be great friends even away from F1 which is why the F1 community questions if they fell apart after the latter’s move to Ferrari got confirmed.
Fans question if everything is right between Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff
Just a few hours after the Sprint race, Hamilton suffered a disastrous qualifying session, getting knocked out of Q1. As a result, he started the Chinese GP from P18, making thongs tricky. This further highlighted the lack of one-lap pace in the W-15, and Wolff was on the receiving end of immense slander.
toto wolff hours after his driver is robbed of a historic world title VS toto wolff after that same driver outperforms the car massively and earns a sprint podium pic.twitter.com/52dTq91Z4y
— cess (@VARMILT0N) April 20, 2024
One fan was shocked to see Wolff downplay Hamilton’s drive while Rosberg appreciated his former teammate and arch-rival.
did not have this on my 2024 bingo card pic.twitter.com/OjJPyiIgmF
— sim (@sim3744) April 20, 2024
Meanwhile, others couldn’t believe Wolff referred to the 39-year-old as ‘Hamilton’ instead of the usual ‘Lewis.’
LOL NOT TOTO WOLF CALLING LEWIS ‘HAMILTON’.
— csenge (@lczcs5) April 20, 2024
Not giving Lewis any credit, also calling him “Hamilton” instead of Lewis… that behind the scenes beef at Mercedes must be crazy pic.twitter.com/xOxXogx1BA
— leo (@formuleo_) April 20, 2024
Hamilton will leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025, so there could be internal tensions within the Brackley-based outfit owing to the same. The Briton has complained about Mercedes’ set-up on several occasions, and things don’t seem to be improving. On a track like Shanghai, making places up from P18 on the grid will be an extremely difficult affair for Lewis Hamilton.