Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says pleasure at Lewis Hamilton’s cost to fourth within the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was tempered by annoyance that he ought to have been within the victory combat.
Hamilton was collaborating in his last race weekend for the Mercedes staff after a 12-year stint that had netted six drivers’ titles and 84 victories.
However hopes of a profitable send-off, after some promising tempo in observe, was derailed in qualifying when Hamilton hit a bollard that had been thrown into the monitor by Kevin Magnussen within the closing phases of Q1.
The unfastened cone acquired caught beneath his automotive and, badly affecting his aerodynamics, meant his lap was ruined and he did not make it by way of to Q2.
After beginning sixteenth, Hamilton confirmed good pace and tyre administration on another technique within the race to seize fourth place on the ultimate lap after a spectacular overtaking transfer on team-mate George Russell.
Whereas that end result offered an uplifting send-off for Hamilton and Mercedes after some struggles in current occasions, Wolff mentioned that he couldn’t get it out of his head that with out the unhealthy luck with the bollard, the seven-time champion ought to have been proper on the entrance.
“I at all times attempt to be analytical and, if the bollard hadn’t been in our manner yesterday, I believe Lewis may have fought for the victory,” mentioned Wolff.
“On the opposite aspect, one thing he mentioned to me is that now we have had so many race victories, a lot success, that these final races, they do not change something of how we really feel.
“He drove like a world champion at this time. From P16, working his manner slowly by way of the vehicles, taking part in the lengthy recreation after which ending in fourth, driving away from the Purple Bull. That was an announcement of a world champion.”
Mercedes’ pre-race estimations had pointed to Hamilton ending sixth, however he was helped on his manner by a gap nook collision between entrance row starter Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen.
Wolff added: “Earlier than the race, the most effective estimate was P6. On pure tempo and medium tyre to medium tyre with Lando, he was two-tenths slower. However clearly with Lewis’ site visitors state of affairs etcetera, we’d have been proper up there.”
The ultimate farewell
Whereas Hamilton has taken half in his last race for Mercedes, he’ll now participate in quite a lot of sponsorship and promotional appearances as a part of a winter farewell tour earlier than he’s launched to Ferrari.
However Wolff mentioned that after such a very long time collectively, the bonds between them will finally by no means be damaged.
“It has been 12 years,” he mentioned. “It isn’t solely the longest driver-team relationship the game has ever seen; it’s most likely additionally one of many longest relationships that any sports activities staff had with a participant.
“It has been one of many longest relationships now we have had personally with one other particular person and that creates attachment, and belief. And people values, at the present time, are uncommon.
“That is why it’s a time frame that we are going to at all times maintain near our hearts and the most effective durations that I’ve personally had with the staff.”
Wolff mentioned that he and Hamilton would make each effort to attempt to keep their relationship sooner or later though they are going to change into rivals from 2025.
“We mentioned we’re going to work onerous on sustaining the connection,” he mentioned. “It’s going to be fierce competitors on the monitor but when people need a relationship to proceed past competitors, we are going to achieve this.
“We’ll nonetheless be doing our sports activities periods the place we’re each aggressive, and attempt to beat one another; or trip a bike, have dinner collectively and all of these issues.”
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Jonathan Noble
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Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
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