Hamilton-Russell F1 Drama: Toto Wolff Faces Crucial Team Dynamic Test
Oct.9 - Toto Wolff has a task on his hands once he returns from his absence to lead the Mercedes team at grands prix again.
Team boss and co-owner Wolff began his absence with the Japanese grand prix recently - ostensibly to recover from knee surgery.
But thousands of kilometres away from him, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell almost crashed into one another - and were ultimately called to order from the remote pitwall that Wolff has set up inside his home.
"It wasn't that bad," Wolff told Osterreich newspaper a few days ago. "We're not fighting for a win or a title at the moment, but for the golden pineapple.
"When the drivers try to push the limits, there is a call to order. At the end, I made that call."
After the Japan absence, Wolff, 51, says he overdid his knee rehabilitation and was told by his doctor that he could not fly to Qatar.
And it was there, at the Losail circuit, that the unthinkable happened - Hamilton and Russell crashed at the first corner. Hamilton, who retired with three wheels only on his car, admitted the blame.
"I hope there were no objects in Toto's reach, or they may need to operate on the knee again," joked former F1 driver Alex Wurz on the Austrian broadcaster ORF.
Russell insisted there are "no hard feelings", and Mercedes posted a video showing the two British drivers hug it out.
But Ralf Schumacher told Sky Deutschland: "There's a bit of work to be done between the two of them now. The team will need to intervene, and they will."
However, it's a very different story compared to Hamilton's former and intense rivalry with Nico Rosberg, as the pair despised one another and were fighting right at the front.
2016 title winner Rosberg said at Qatar after the Hamilton-Russell clash: "There's not much to discuss actually because it was relatively one-sided.
"Lewis apologising doesn't happen often, but it's also rarely this clear.
"Perhaps Toto needs to have a word with them. It's unfortunate that Niki Lauda is missing now, as he was always the first mediator.
"Wherever Niki was in the world, Lewis and I had to go to him. Niki always tried to mediate so that we met in the middle.
"In this case, Lewis is clearly at fault, so Toto has to reprimand him."
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three wheels on my wagon and i keep rolling along.them cherokees are after me
go left, go left , naw ill missjudge it and go right, reminiscent of 2010-2012 im afraid
No mediation necessary here. Nothing to see. Lewie was dead wrong, admitted it and the two will easily get on with it. Might have been different if RUS had been the one on the trailer.
Did you watch Nico face when Naomiknownothing was defending Laura, it was a look of wtffff, i think she was say give Laura the benefit of the doubt lololol
I hope that She is on a one year deal. She adds nothing to the broadcast. We need more Bernie Collins.
You’re just saying that because she’s different skinned. 😁🤣
No, Spy, I'm saying that because she adds absolutely nothing to the broadcast. I see the smiley emojis so perhaps my ire is misplaced.
To be honest, whenever Naomi Schitt has the microphone, I hit the mute button. Not only Nico's face (although I wasn't watching that part), but also Brundle, Davidson, Button and Damon Hill all cringe when she starts talking her nonsense. Because they know she doesn't know what she is talking about! Naomi's out of her depth!
I don't think Bernie Collins comes from a racing background, but she has a much greater depth of knowledge and understanding than Naomiknownothing!
All the other female commentators show some comprehension and understanding of what is happening, but not Naomiknownothing. She should be shown the door!
Well ill say it , shes there because sky are in bed with the Dame and diversity even comes to commentators, her racing history is nothing that many other commentators could do, its lip service sky are paying to Lucy and other moaners, but sky can be seen to be doing there bit , i couldn't careless, but her knowledge is Crap, Dame gets grief , she makes a comment, she gets grief , LouLou makes a comment and everything well with Sky
Shrop', you make a reasonable argument. But, just when I'm ready to blast the SKYguys, they trot out Bernie Collins who is the best I've seen in along time. Does diversity have to be skin color related? Let's be honest, not many people of any color other than white have much interest in motorsports.
Anyway it wont matter if liberty sell up, Bernie shes (The real Deal ) if sky need experts, they are out there, but please not just because of her skin colour to box tick, Naomiknowsnothings career was extremely average and im being polite there and yes I agree with you , re run the grandstand scenes at Stone , says it all, i presume is it the Same in America, BUT we are missing a trick wasn't there recently a punch up between Nascar truck racers, now F1 could do that instead of silly , he pushed me wide radio
Bashcar slapfests happen all of the time. It is part the 'rubbing is racing' philosophy...and the Bud slurpers love it. LOLOL
ROR Im no fan of Naomiknowsnothings. It was sarcasm hence the smiles. In this politically correct world the minute someone of colour is criticised people jump up and down and pull out the race card. Just stirring the pot for something to do. 😁😁
for all us non KKK members I think the issue is we couldn't give a stuff about colour its knowledge, sincerity, and not following a script we prefer, but Spot on Spy, just reordering a bigger spoon myself
I was originally going to say I was referring to Lou Lou, but that would have been politically incorrect.