Hamilton 'Could Have Fought For Victory' If Bollard Incident Didn't Happen Says Wolff

Tuesday, 10 December 2024 at 14:13

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated that Lewis Hamilton could have fought for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix if he wasn't unlucky in qualifying.

Lewis Hamilton had to start his final Grand Prix with Mercedes from P16 after getting knocked out of Q1 due to an unlucky incident.

Kevin Magnussen, who was trying to avoid impeding the seven-time world champion, accidentally knocked the bollard, which marks the apex, right under the car of the Mercedes driver.

The bollard stayed under Hamilton's car for the remainder of the lap and cost him probably more than two-tenths (in comparison to his previous best run), which would have been enough to get through to Q2.

Nevertheless, the 39-year-old didn't let this unlucky incident affect his whole weekend and gave it all on Sunday, going from P16 to P4, finishing ahead of his teammate George Russell who started from P6 on the grid.

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Although it was an incredible performance from Hamilton, it would be even more magical to say his final goodbye to Mercedes by achieving a victory or at least a podium.

The team principal of Silver Arrows, Toto Wolff, is convinced that the Briton would have been fighting for the race victory had it not been for the unlucky incident with the bollard.

"I always try to be analytical, and if the bollard wasn't in our way yesterday, I think that Lewis could have fought for the victory. I'm continuing that thought."

"But then, on the other side, it's something he [Hamilton] said to me. We've had so many wins and so much success that these last few races, they don't change anything of how we feel about it."

"He drove like a world champion today. From P16, making it slowly through the cars, playing the long game, and then finishing fourth, driving away from the Red Bull [of Max Verstappen]. That was a statement of a world champion."

Similar to Las Vegas Lewis Hamilton outperformed Mercedes's best simulations that estimated a P6 would be possible.

"Before the race, the best estimate was P6. On pure pace and medium tire to medium tire with Lando, he was two-tenths slower. But obviously, with Lewis' traffic situation, etcetera, we would have been right up there."