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Wolff: Hamilton-Bottas pairing like 'Alice in Wonderland' compared to Hamilton-Rosberg rivalry

Published on 09 Nov 2018 16:48
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By: Fergal Walsh

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says that the mood in the Mercedes camp is much more harmonious with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas as teammates compared to what it was like when Nico Rosberg was still with the Silver Arrows.

Prior to Rosberg's retirement in 2016 following his championship success, Mercedes endured three years of tension as Hamilton and Rosberg went head-to-head for the title, with Hamilton coming out on top twice before Rosberg got the better of the Briton.

Since Bottas has joined the team, Hamilton has clinched a further two titles, with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel being his main rival, not his teammate. Wolff says that there is a noticeable difference within the team since the two became partners in 2017.

Bottas is yet to win a race this year, but Wolff doesn't think Hamilton will let him have one easily: “Lewis is very much out there to win as many races as possible, and championships,” Wolff told Sky. “And no driver wants to give up a race victory. I think Valtteri needs to get it himself and this is how it should pan out.

"This is Alice in Wonderland now compared to what we had before. They are yin and yang. And I’m not saying that in a negative way, every driver has his own way of trying to achieve success. But Valtteri is an absolutely cool Finn. I don’t think that he even realises if something is being manipulated. So it’s a great relationship between the two.”

Bottas was forced to give Hamilton the lead of the race in Russia to boost Hamilton's championship hopes, despite the Finn leading the race through merit: “I always said these handcuffs existed because Lewis had such an advantage in the championship," Wolff said. "We never said they didn’t exit.”

Bottas' other best opportunity at a win in 2018 came in Baku when he inherited the lead from Sebastian Vettel after a conveniently timed safety car. However, a puncture in the final laps gifted victory to Hamilton and forced Bottas to park up and retire.

"It would have been 25 more points for Valtteri that one race. I think we [also] would have gotten the constructors’ championship by now," Wolff added. "He would have been in [with] a shot for the championship. And then obviously it’s very difficult to say ‘you need to drive for the other driver’, that doesn’t go.”

RogerF1

Posts: 501

It’s pathetic and a sham, might just as well have one driver teams. Is Bottas the only driver in F1 that wants to be second? With a bit of luck LM will “lose his mojo” again in 2019 and we can havecat fight st the front of the grid.
No live UK terrestrial F1 TV in 2019 and comments like thi... [Read more]

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Nov 9 2018 - 21:02

F1 News Valtteri Bottas Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Sebastian Vettel Susie Wolff Mercedes Ferrari

Replies (6)

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
It's been great for Mercedes, but boring for the fans. I loved the intensity of the rivalry between Rosberg and Hamilton. It made it interesting during years were it could have been an utterly boring domination of Mercedes (like the 2000's with Ferrari). But instead we were treated to some serious drama.
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- Nov 9 2018 - 18:20
RogerF1

Posts: 501
It’s pathetic and a sham, might just as well have one driver teams. Is Bottas the only driver in F1 that wants to be second? With a bit of luck LM will “lose his mojo” again in 2019 and we can havecat fight st the front of the grid.
No live UK terrestrial F1 TV in 2019 and comments like this from Wolff add to the turn off.
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- Nov 9 2018 - 21:02
f1ski

Posts: 726
artificial advantage for Mercedes the rules ensured no one could challenge them.of course there was tension when the two cars were the only ones challenging for the win.
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- Nov 9 2018 - 21:58
sadosalo

Posts: 198
Great for Lewis as in no challenge from a teammate, boring for the fans. Lewis is not the best driver and he knows it, consider Max VER 33 in the same car, now we'r talking.
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- Nov 10 2018 - 04:56
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
You know Toto, Alice in Wonderland wasnt all that nice of a story. And as nice as things are for you now, just as unpleasant it might become should Bottas chsllenge Hammy.
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- Nov 10 2018 - 05:53
boudy

Posts: 1,168
" I don’t think that he even realises if something is being manipulated. So it’s a great relationship between the two.”

That's a interesting remark. Is Toto stating that Bottas has an lower IQ or is naive? Either way the lack of tenacity by Bottas will never make him a champion. I preferred Rosberg at least he would keep it interesting, now it's predictable like with Ferrari. But it's kinda the Mercedes way of thinking and unlucky for him he's not the chosen one.
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- Nov 10 2018 - 07:40