Toto Wolff left devastated: “We are not worthy for a world champion”


Toto Wolff left devastated: “We are not worthy for a world champion”

Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton survived a disappointing weekend in the 2022 Emilia Romagna GP. The 7-time World Champion was knocked out of Qualifying in Q2 for the first sprint race of the season. He finished P14 in the sprint race and after a gruelling 63 laps of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, scored no points after finishing P13 in the main race.

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The Briton spent most of the race trying to overtake the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly and was on the receiving end of an unsafe pit release by Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. The Briton also had to face blue flags in the 41st lap after Race winner and Red Bull Driver Max Verstappen lapped him. This was his lowest finish and first race where he scored no points despite finishing since the 2021 Azerbaijan GP.

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff shared the humiliation of the 7-time World Champion and said there is no possibility that the W13 could aid him in securing a race victory, let alone challenge for the Championship.

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Toto Wolff apologises to Lewis Hamilton after Imola GP

Lewis Hamilton trails Sebastian Vettel

Lewis Hamilton has struggled with the W13 in the past 3 races as well. Despite an unlikely podium in Bahrain, the Briton has been battling porpoising and lack of speed. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff agrees with the subpar performance delivered by the W13 but says there is scope in the car after teammate George Russell claimed a P4 in Imola. The rookie has claimed a top 5 finish in every race so far.

Wolff said, “Yes, I mean, really bad. He got squeezed by the Alpine, the other two cars undercut him, and there is just no-overtaking when you are in a DRS train. I think we saw with George where the car can drive if you are in free air, but we are not good enough for a world champion – not worthy for a world champion – we just need to fix the car.”

Wolff even apologised to Hamilton on the radio after the race for the car he had to drive. The Austrian said, “Sorry for what you had to drive with today, this result is not what we deserved.” To which Hamilton replied, “I know. Let’s keep working hard.” Hamilton stands 7th in the Drivers standings while Russell is 4th.

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