Toto Wolff admits he wants Lewis Hamilton to get an eighth World Championship title out of his ‘personal anger’

Mercedes Boss Toto Wolff commented on Lewis Hamilton’s eighth World Title and branded it as a personal mission to settle the ashes of 2021.

Toto Wolff admits he wants Lewis Hamilton to get an eighth World Championship title out of his ‘personal anger’

The year 2021 witnessed a Titanic battle for the Championship as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fought tooth and nail until the very last lap of the iconic season. The story that unfolded at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has already etched itself in the annals of the sport’s history. The fated Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen claim his first Championship crown as Lewis Hamilton was overtaken on the very last lap of the race after FIA’s controversial safety car call.

The man who was at the helm of the Mercedes garage, who emerged second best on the fateful day, has now spoken about evening the odds. Toto Wolff, Team Principal at Mercedes, recently commented on Lewis Hamilton’s elusive eighth World Championship. Wolff maintained his claim about Hamilton rightfully deserving the 2021 World Championship as he expressed his desire to ‘overcome’ 2021’s outcome. 

I have a personal anger and drive to make him win the eighth title because he should have had it. As a team principal, it is important to be fair and open with both drivers. But there is a big part of us that will always want to be a part of that story in undoing and overcoming 2021.
Toto Wolff commented, as reported by The Athletic.
YouTube video

Hamilton and Wolff enjoyed a period of remarkable dominance in their glory years at Mercedes, the Driver-TP duo managed to win 6 Grand Prix titles together from 2014-2020. The only year that Lewis Hamilton managed to lose out on the Championship was 2016 when his Mercedes teammate, Nico Rosberg clinched the Title. It will be great to see how the 2021 narrative unfolds as Mercedes aim to put up a considerable challenge against the Red Bulls.

FS Video

Revisiting Toto Wolff’s comments about Mercedes’ lack of consistency

Mercedes, coming off strong performances at the US GP and the Mexican GP, fell short of expectations at the Brazilian Grand Prix, failing to challenge the dominating Red Bulls. Despite the team’s anticipation to be primary contenders at Interlagos, both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell struggled throughout the weekend, finishing P8 and incurring a DNF, respectively.

Lewis Hamilton (via imago)
Lewis Hamilton (via Imago)

Toto Wolff, leading the Silver Arrows, addressed the lackluster performance after the Grand Prix, attributing it to the car’s limitations. He emphasized that the team’s race management discussions during the Grand Prix were irrelevant, considering the fundamental issue was the car’s lack of speed. 

I think the race [management] and the messages for us today are completely irrelevant. There was nothing to manage or nothing to say; it’s a complete sideshow. I think the fundamental issue is that the car was slow.

Russell’s radio communications during the race, urging the team to ask Lewis Hamilton to slow down and expressing his struggle with pace, highlighted the challenges faced by Mercedes. Wolff’s disappointment stems from the team’s drastic performance decline soon after their brilliant showings at the Mexican GP, where Hamilton finished in P2. It will be interesting to see where the Silver Arrows end up at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.