Wolff Slams 'No Brain' Conspiracy Theorists After Hamilton's P3 In Spain
F1Monday, 24 June 2024 at 16:00
Following Lewis Hamilton's P3 in the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, Toto Wolff hit at fans who suggested the seven-time World Champion was being sabotaged by his own team.
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya suited Mercedes very well in 2023, and it was the same case in 2024 as well. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell qualified in P3 and P4, which is also the result they brought home after the race on Sunday.
The seven-time World Champion scored his first Grand Prix podium of the season and named the Spanish GP his best race weekend in a very long time.
This 39-year-old's great result comes right after two race weekends, during which it was suggested he was being mistreated by his own team- Mercedes.
There was even an anonymous email purportedly sent by a Mercedes team member claiming the seven-time World Champion's life might be in danger if the German team kept playing with his tire temperatures.
The team principal of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, was asked after the race whether Hamilton's result in Barcelona is something that should quieten any critics, and he responded:
"These conspiracy theorists, I have zero respect for, because they have no brain. We want a car that wins races and championships, and who doesn't get that should be watching another sport."
Hamilton didn't have the most optimal start, but then he showed incredible pace during his second and third stint and with the most optimal tire strategy, he recovered the third place.
"It’s good to see that he has had a great weekend, because it has been a while that he has been on the receiving end and strategy has worked against."
"But today, that went in his favor, and so I am happy we have that podium for him because it has been a while."
Wolff not concerned about the battle between Hamilton and Russell
During the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, we saw it boil between the two Ferrari teammates, who had a very hard battle already on lap three, which resulted in contact between their two cars.
Charles Leclerc then expressed his disappointment with his teammate's actions after the race, which got a response from the 29-year-old Spaniard.
While Ferrari will have to talk to their drivers between last week's race in Barcelona and the upcoming race in Austria, Mercedes managed their two drivers much better.
Hamilton and Russell had a battle in the exact same corner as the two Scuderia drivers, but they managed to avoid contact. Asked whether he had concerns about his two drivers, Wolff said:
"There will always be a rivalry between drivers, especially when the car is capable of winning. It's normal. But the two are very respectful to each other. We are very transparent in the team."
"That’s a lesson I have learned, we are not holding back, we are not letting anything grow in terms of animosity and from that angle, I think it’s business as usual."
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