Mercedes apology 'bizarre' - Horner

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Published on 05 Jul 2018 09:37
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By: Jeroen Jonkers

Christian Horner says Mercedes threw a key team member "under the bus" during last week's Austrian grand prix.

With Lewis Hamilton complaining about a bungled strategy, strategist James Vowles went onto the radio to issue a grovelling apology.

Red Bull boss Horner says it was a "bizarre" mid-race incident.

"It seems a fairly bizarre thing for somebody to feel they need to do -- to throw themselves under the bus to motivate a driver to go from fourth back into the lead," he told the Sun.

"Our philosophy is collective responsibility rather than individual. There has to be accountability, but that is dealt with in the right environment behind closed doors and not in a public forum," added Horner.

Horner said he thinks the main issue is Mercedes struggling to adapt to life now that Ferrari and Red Bull are fully competitive.

"It becomes very easy to become complacent and then it is an adjustment," he said.

KyalamiKid

Posts: 146

Maybe MB have changed their complete way of doing things, maybe Vowles will come on the radio next time when they make a great strategy call as well... "Lewis, I won you this one, but we believe in you nonetheless"

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Jul 5 2018 - 20:45

F1 News Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Ferrari

Replies (12)

F1_IS_Dead

Posts: 123
Bizarre is the right term. Something is not right with Lewis. Just look at his post interview. He acts like he is on drugs or some heavy medications. Maybe if this Vowles wouldn't say something on the radio, Lewis would stop the car in the middle of the track and announce his retirement. I would like to know, what else Mercedes has to do to keep him "motivated".
I also wonder if Rosberg had to "retire" like Boullier, because of Hamilton.
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- Jul 5 2018 - 14:53
- Norbert
  
  Posts: 108
  #tinfoilhat
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  Jul 5 2018 - 15:14
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  Yikes that escalated quickly. Yup #tinfoilhat is right
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  Jul 5 2018 - 16:41
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Someone say.... TINFOIL HATS?!?!?!
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  Jul 5 2018 - 19:10
talktohenry

Posts: 362
Don't agree they did the right thing at the right time and Horners way is old fashioned, own up to it, say sorry immediately, and then, quickly - move on, no big deal!
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- Jul 5 2018 - 16:56
f1ski

Posts: 726
Lewis is bored he has complete belief in his ability and because he doesn't care to prove anything he is driving my better than ever. I think he will struggle as MB is pushed. He has appeared to better manage tires but that is easy when at 90% your car is the fastest. I personally am not a fan but I respect his speed and ability. I wouldn't be surprised if he leaves for a year then returns
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- Jul 5 2018 - 17:17
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I agree with Horner. It was a nice gesture by Vowles to apologize, but its a team effort, and to have him apoliogizing this way, in front of us all in TV, be it voluntarily or with Wolff holding a gun at his head forcing him to read the lines "or you will get another trip to my basement of joy" is a bit weird to me. We all saw why it didnt go well for them, we dont need to know more, and Lewis can have that apology if he really need one that badly to stay motivated behind closed doors... And yes, I still believe Wolff is into BDSM...
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- Jul 5 2018 - 19:14
- GaryBarnsley
  
  Posts: 1
  Horner is conveniently forgetting what was said over the radio when they lost Monaco for Daniel it seems.
  
  Horner likes to cause 'mischief' for Mercedes, he always has.
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  Jul 6 2018 - 09:49
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Very true, but I sorta place it in another cathegory, because he apologized as a team. No single person was sacrificed that time. This time, we had one person going on radio for all of the world to hear that it was his fault, and personally I find that worse. I dont agree with Horner's methods, but I disagree with this thing even more.
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  Jul 8 2018 - 12:43
KyalamiKid

Posts: 146
Maybe MB have changed their complete way of doing things, maybe Vowles will come on the radio next time when they make a great strategy call as well... "Lewis, I won you this one, but we believe in you nonetheless"
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- Jul 5 2018 - 20:45
Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172
Horner playing head games plain and simple.
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- Jul 7 2018 - 00:46
Norbert

Posts: 108
The radio explanation was essential and typical of words used by Lewis Hamilton in the past when the shoe was on the other foot. Nothing bizzare at all about an apology for a mistake, the second of its kind in 9 races.

Agree that Horner likes to cause trouble by floating poison balloons at press conferences. Planting the seeds of doubt, possibly as psychological warfare to cast other team in a negative light. Never go for a ride in Christian Horner's personal submarine. God knows what would happen.
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- Jul 7 2018 - 07:40