Mercedes boss Toto Wolf is still pondering how to deal with Lewis Hamilton’s driving tactics in the season-ending Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but somehow he has accepted it was something that the three times world champion needs to do in the race. Wolf was absolutely not happy with Hamilton’s move and even warned after the race on Sunday of potential “anarchy” and possible disciplinary action after Hamilton clearly ignored instruction send to him as he battled with teammate Nico Rosberg for the title.
Wolf told a news conference on Tuesday “I have not made up my mind. I can understand why he drove the way he drove, it was his instinct,” “He needed to do it. Our system has made them win many races, but has also created that air of dominance… but again, let’s discuss at a later stage.”
Hamilton won the Abu Dhabi race on Sunday but lost the title to Rosberg, slowed the pace deliberately in a bid to back his teammate into a position where rivals could overtake the German who only needed to finish on the podium. Wold was annoyed by this move of Hamilton as it openly undermines the structure of the team for whom Hamilton secured 10 race victories and 12 pole positions this season.
Though Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel described Hamilton’s tactics as “dirty tricks” while Rosberg said that his team mate’s driving made it a difficult race but then felt that the situation was too hypothetical to add more or discuss further on it. Rosberg said “It’s about the world championship so he decided to try everything out there. So in a way it is understandable even though it was very very tough as a result,”
When Rosberg was asked about Malaysia’s decision to quit hosting Formula One after 2018 due to declining interest and increasing cost he said “I’m sure it’s done a lot for Malaysia, to create a lot of attention for the country and businesses. I wish that F1 is able to stay for many more years.”
Malaysia has been considering canceling the F1 race due to declining ticket sales and TV viewing figures and recently discussed this issue with F1 Boss Bernie Ecclestone. State oil and gas firm Petronas is the title sponsor for the Formula One race in Kuala Lumpur and is also the key sponsor for Team Mercedes. Tumble in the oil prices has hit the company revenues hard in recent times.
