Mercedes bosses back Lewis Hamilton despite sabotage claims
- Published on 03 Oct 2016 13:47
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- By: Dominik Wilde
Mercedes management have insisted that Lewis Hamilton does not think the team sabotaged his chances of winning the Malaysia Grand Prix, despite his controversial outburst on television after the race.
Hamilton's fans have famously called the team out for sabotaging his chances whenever Rosberg has had the upper hand throughout their three-year reign at the top of Formula One, and for the first time, on Sunday, the three-time world champion appeared to agree with them.
"Something just doesn't feel right. Someone doesn't want me to win this year," he said.
He later backtracked, claiming to have been referring to God rather than an individual within the team.
"When you get out of the car - that feeling you have after leading the race and then your car fails - it's pretty hard to say positive things at the time," he said. "But I have 100 per cent confidence in these guys."
"It feels a little bit like the man above, or a higher power, is intervening a little bit," he said. "If at the end of the year the higher powers don't want me to be champion after everything I've given towards it, I will have to accept that."
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff backed his driver, saying that he spoke in the heat of the moment.
"After this bitter outcome, when you're leading the race, about to get back in the championship lead and your engine blows up, then a statement in front of a TV camera is allowed," he told the German newspaper Bild. "He was incredibly disappointed, and everyone expresses disappointment differently."
"Once Lewis calms down, he will appreciate that it (sabotage) is not true," he said. "It's just a crazy coincidence why the majority of the engine problems this year have been had by him."
the team's non-executive chairman Niki Lauda added that he would speak to Hamilton on their way to Japan for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
"Hamilton cannot say there is sabotage," the F1 legend is quoted by El Mundo Deportivo. "I cannot accept that, because we do everything possible to give him the best car and the best engine."
"We will spend six hours together on my plane to Japan and by the time we get there, there will be no worries," he insisted.
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Replies (6)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Im not exactly complaining since I cheer for Rosberg, but it is a bit odd how Hamilton has had more problem with reliability this year. Not that I think its down to any conspiracies or anything, but the fact that Nico doesnt wear out his engines as much as HamHam doesnt quite seem to explain it all. Then again... *grabs tinfoil hat* Formula 1 fuel cant melt steel exhaust pipes... ;)
Vet5
Posts: 225
I see alot of comments with people saying its his driving style that's causing the wear in the engines, whether that's true or not is beyond me but could be a possibility,
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It is likely a factor, but surely it wouldnt make that much of a difference? Heck, Hamilton ran a much fresher engine than Rosberg, yet the turbo failed.
mclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
It's him being hard on the engines, Nico has been known to be rather gentle on many aspects, a reason why he seems to miss out on many poles by being overly cautious and conservative leading to mistakes.
Mercedes are in it to enhance the brand and sell more engines and cars, they dont care who wins the title in their cars, the last thing they need to do is "aid" someone to win the title because they are German by blowing up their own engines.
kalibobo
Posts: 2
Its really really funny how mercedes engines are giving up on LH. Mercedes, stop spoon feeding NR! Nico should fight for the title if he thinks he deserves it.
Anytime Lewis challenges Nico's position as championship leader he miraculously gets into all sorts of mechanical/ electronic problems.
Mr. N Lauder please get the team's act together. You have always admitted Lewis is a better driver. DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM AT MERCEDES. LET THE GAME BE FAIR!!!!!!!
mclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
I've been told greys were behind the the explosions, Wolff confessed to having hired the greys to help with this on Mount Sinai. The deal is worth a lot to the greys they get free reign on the helium3 they get to mine off of Germany's share of space on the moon.