Furious Toto Wolff slams Lewis Hamilton over Mercedes’ “stupid” and “unforgivable” decision in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying that cost the Briton 16th on the grid in his final race with the team. I apologized.
In a weekend that started with high hopes for a strong result after Hamilton ran strongly in practice, finishing within the top five on the timesheets, the seven-time champion was eliminated in the first stage of qualifying for the third time in the last six races. .
But while Hamilton may have struggled with his team’s car in qualifying for much of this year, hot-blooded Wolff said Saturday’s recent early retirement meant the 39-year-old Hamilton was also returned to the track in the final stages of Q1. He placed the blame squarely on the team’s execution. I was late because I was stuck in a traffic jam with other cars.
Hamilton’s chances of making it to Q2 were further hampered by the misfortune of him running over a loose bollard dislodged by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas at the end of his out lap, which became wedged under the car’s front wing. I got lost.
But Wolff made no excuses for his team’s timing mistakes.
“I must apologize to Lewis and the entire team who worked so hard to ensure a great end for him,” the Mercedes team principal said. sky sports f1.
“He was the fastest with the set-up we chose for the car to experiment with for next year, but we let him down completely.
“It was a stupid mistake not to go sooner. Unforgivable, unforgivable.
“It’s rare to be so depressed about what happened. This might sum up my last race with him, but this is the worst part, because it was just stupid.”
“We were both lucky that we both struggled through the traffic and probably would have been better without the bollards.
“But in Q1 we didn’t have to take too many risks and we had the pace to get out easily.”
Wolff, whose team has broken records with Hamilton over the past 12 years, said: “Our most valuable racing driver of all time, the most valuable and greatest driver in this sport, was eliminated in Q1 because of a mistake we made.” “It happened,” he added regretfully.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
This weekend, watch a two-part special feature on Sky Sports celebrating seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton’s amazing journey with Mercedes.
“That doesn’t ruin the whole legacy we have with him, but all I can say to him is that I’m sorry.”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Lewis Hamilton says he is aiming to recover from the bollard accident that cost him Q1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Mercedes bosses admitted Hamilton’s hopes of making it to the final podium as a Silver Arrows driver were doomed from his position on the bottom of the eighth row of the grid. Hamilton qualified 18th but was moved up two places on Sunday’s grid due to penalties for Charles Leclerc and Alex Albon.
“He was there, he really could have shot for a podium,” Wolff added. “He was P3 this morning, but that’s almost impossible from where he is now.”
Hamilton: Bad qualifying was ‘just luck’
While understandably disappointed and frustrated by the brutal turn of events in Q1, Hamilton offered a philosophical approach to the final weekend’s major setback for the Silver Arrows.
“I just got lucky, but I’ll be fine,” he said. Sky Sports F1.
“We worked hard on the set-up and were able to put the car in a great position. I was feeling good in third place, so I was really thinking, ‘Maybe we can get on the podium this weekend.’
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Lewis Hamilton says he is aiming to recover from the bollard accident that cost him Q1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“Then the timing of the session was not optimal because I was last on the track and obviously behind one of the alpine cars at the back, so I just ran out of time. It’s gone.”
Hamilton said he would try to make a comeback in the 58-lap grand prix.
“I’ll give it a try. Like I said, the car feels decent,” he said. “Going from first and second to being in the top five and then going from 18th to 18th definitely changes the look of the weekend, but I still try to make my presence felt. I’m still really grateful. ”
“This weekend the car was completely different and drove much better. So expectations were high, but it is what it is. We’ll try to bounce back from there.”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports revisits Lewis Hamilton’s most emotional moments for Mercedes ahead of the final race in Abu Dhabi.
Live Abu Dhabi GP Schedule on Sky Sports F1
Sunday, December 8th
7:10am: F1 Academy Race 3
9:20am: F2 Feature Race
11:30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP Build-up
1pm: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
3pm: Checkered flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction
4pm: Ted’s Notes
*The main event will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports
Watch the final race of the 2024 F1 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1. Sunday’s race will be broadcast from 1 p.m. Get or stream Sky Sports F1 now
