Wolf: ‘Hamilton’s exit would be a complaint for F1’

Toto Wolff, director of Mercedes F1 – now speaking to German newspaper Kronen Zeitung – reiterated his initial statement about Lewis Hamilton after the Abu Dhabi GP that “I sincerely hope to see him again”.

The Briton is said to be seriously considering not competing in Formula 1 in 2022 due to the unlawful safety car decisions in the 2021 final in Abu Dhabi, which robbed him of the eighth championship record of his career.

“Hamilton, 37, has a two-year deal – until the end of 2023 – with Mercedes, and Wolf went on to say that the Englishman”is the most important part of our sport. It would be a complaint for the whole F1 when the best driver, due to outrageous decisions, decides to give up”.

The Mercedes F1 strongman went on to say that the Abu Dhabi incident “It will never be forgotten because what happened to Lewis was just wrong. He was undefeated that day until the judges lost control and made decisions with three rule violations. It is difficult to understand. That will always follow us, even if Max Ferstappen is a worthy champion for the whole year. “But that day they were better than the others but they didn’t win.”

Finally, speaking about his team in the shadow of these events and looking ahead to 2022, he concluded: “In 2022 we want to give the right answers on the track and that will be quite difficult with the new regulations. Whatever the obstacle is [ο Χάμιλτον] he met him on his way, he knows all his life that he has to say what he has to say on the track”.

We remind you that Hamilton’s decision is said to depend largely on the conclusions of the FIA ​​investigation into the events in Abu Dhabi. Relations between Mercedes and the International Federation appear to be below zero, but recent rumors suggest a meeting between Wolf and new FIA President Mohamed Ben Sulajem is imminent.

Yesterday, the BBC wrote that Mercedes had agreed not to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport – where, according to Wolf, victory would be all but certain – in exchange for compensation from the FIA, which included the removal of GP’s racing director Michael Massey and – for unknown reasons – the technical manager of the cars Nicolas Tombazi.

Mercedes denied this while new information emerged today. Initial reports included claims that the new FIA 2022 table did not include the Australian and Greek names, but a new post today says the table was issued solely for the change of presidency and was not received. no decision regarding Masi and Tombazis.

The report went on to say that the only change is that FIA vice-president for sport Peter Bager will take over as head of the car department – a post that has become vacant following the loss of Charlie Whiting in 2019 – and that (although not shown in the table) Bager’s subordinates will be Masi in competition management and Tombazis in technique.