Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has apologised to Lewis Hamilton for the “idiotic” mistake that led to the seven-time champion being dumped out in Q1 for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s hopes of delivering a robust lead to his ultimate race weekend for Mercedes already look like over after he ended up P18 in qualifying, having did not make it by way of to Q2. He’ll begin P16 due to penalties for Charles Leclerc and Alex Albon.
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Whereas Hamilton’s hopes weren’t helped by him putting a bollard that had been flung in to his path by the Haas of Kevin Magnussen close to the tip of his lap, Wolff thinks a a lot greater issue was that Mercedes had left issues so late for his or her drivers to get their ultimate runs in.
That left Hamilton uncovered to extra site visitors than if he had gone earlier, which was confirmed with the Magnussen bollard incident.
Talking to Sky, Wolff stated he was indignant about what had occurred and stated there was no excuse for what the staff had executed.
“I simply must apologise to Lewis, and in addition to everybody within the staff that labored so onerous in making it an amazing finish for him,” defined Wolff.
“He was the faster man with that type of set-up that we select on the automotive, additionally to experiment for subsequent yr, and we completely let him down.
“An idiotic mistake of not going earlier. Inexcusable. Inexcusable. I’ve hardly ever been so down about what occurred.
“It possibly summarises the final races we had with him. However that is the worst a part of it, as a result of it was simply idiotic.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15
Photograph by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Photos
Wolff stated that whereas it’s apparent that working late gives probably higher observe situations, doing so in Q1 when all that’s wanted is to set a high 15 time meant it was silly to danger not going early.
“I believe we had been fortunate that they, each of them, wrestled their manner by way of the opposite site visitors,” he stated. “After which possibly with out the bollard, it could have labored.
“However you do not danger a lot in a Q1 the place we had straightforward the tempo to make it on the market.
“Our most useful racing driver ever, probably the most helpful and biggest driver of this sport, will get out in Q1 as a result of we make a mistake. A dilettante mistake that does not damage all of the legacy we now have with him, however I can solely apologize to him.”
Hamilton reckoned that primarily based on his tempo in follow he had appeared on the right track to problem for a podium end behind McLaren.
Nevertheless, Wolff stated all hope of that was now gone with him beginning thus far again.
“His tempo was there,” he stated. “We’d have had an actual go for a podium. He was P3 this morning, and now it is just about unimaginable from the place he comes.”
Images from Abu Dhabi GP Apply & Qualifying
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Jonathan Noble
Formulation 1
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
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