Wolff responds to Hamilton 'psychological' comments

Oct.1 - Toto Wolff has responded to Lewis Hamilton's claim that a team staff reshuffle hurt him "psychologically" this year.

The reigning world champion trails his Mercedes teammate by 8 points following a three-race winning streak by Nico Rosberg.

Hamilton suggested at Sepang that a pre-season decision by boss Wolff to reshuffle some key mechanics and engineers to Rosberg's side of the garage had an effect.

"The biggest effect it can have on the driver is psychologically, but it's not something I want to go into," said the Briton.

Wolff has acknowledged that psychology is important to a driver, but insisted that staffing decisions are made with the entire team in mind rather than any individual.

"No football player would tell Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola who he'd like to play with. It's the manager's call to decide who is in the squad," he said.

"I understand that as a driver you want the perfect cocoon but it's about how we can develop 1500 people -- not one."

Wolff said there will be no team orders for the last 6 races of Hamilton and Rosberg's title battle, and suggested that Rosberg is simply in top form.

"A winning streak never lasts," he said. "At a certain stage it swings in the other direction."

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