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Refusing to “Sugarcoat” Fatal Error, Lewis Hamilton Lashes Out at Mercedes Over Toto Wolff’s Bleak Assessment

Published 08/28/2023, 3:15 AM EDT

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Following a tumultuous qualifying session dominated by persistent rain, race day emerged as a ruthless adversary for the Mercedes team. A P6 finish thwarted Lewis Hamilton. Meanwhile, teammate George Russell, initially poised for a podium, endured a race to forget, ending up in a disheartening P17 due to a collision with McLaren’s Lando Norris. The results prompted a raging eruption of feelings as Lewis Hamilton, who is usually known for his cool attitude, let go of his own Mercedes squad. The catalyst? Team Principal Toto Wolff’s gloomy evaluation was at the very heart of a series of fatal errors that the Austrian refused to sugarcoat. So what’s the matter?

The race that held the promise of unsettling Mercedes’ pursuit of a second-place finish in the championship unfolded as a disheartening narrative of missed opportunities. Though Toto Wolff also didn’t mince words as he admitted that both his drivers were seething with frustration, reflecting the tough day they experienced.

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell vehemently criticize their team for its bleak evaluation

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The sequence of events began with the weather, a key factor in disrupting yet another Mercedes weekend. Adding to the issue was the team’s pessimistic judgment. Unlike the rest of the drivers who switched to rain-suited tires, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were kept out until the third and fourth laps, respectively. The team’s bleak analysis profoundly disappointed its drivers.

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Mercedes didn’t attempt to soften the blow, with their team boss asserting that their misjudgment “ruined the entire race.” Toto Wolff added,There is absolutely nothing to sugarcoat. The Mercedes boys raging in the fire had some of the harshest criticism for their side, as initially Motorsport. total found Lewis Hamilton stating, “should have pitted sooner,” followed by the comments of the younger Brit George Russell who pointed out an “incorrect assessment of the weather.” Wolff, though, also pleads for compassion for his team.”The weather came so quickly, faster than expected and much stronger than expected. We hadn’t seen that in our forecast.”

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Although Toto Wolff and the team did face criticism from the Mercedes drivers. But if we take a closer look, the Mercedes team leader is still the one who has the most significant regrets.

What are Toto Wolff’s regrets from the Zandvoort race?

Both drivers had set lofty anticipations for the team’s progress, and when these aspirations weren’t realized, they channeled their dissatisfaction further. The disastrous performance at Zandvoort undoubtedly demoralized the entire crew.

While the team had a true chance to change its course and advance far in the competition, some poor choices that even caused Toto Wolff to make a disastrous comment instead brought it down.

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In light of this, Toto Wolff shows his regret. According to @MercedesNewsUK’s tweet, Toto Wolff said the Mercedes boy had the pace as fast as Max Verstappen. After claiming to go “catastrophically wrong” Wolff added, “We got it catastrophically wrong by staying too long on the track. Russell was at Max’s pace and Lewis was just as fast. We could have been ahead if we had done it right.”

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WATCH THIS STORY: Lewis Hamilton Finds Himself in an Unusual Situation With His Teammate for the First Time Since 2007

The decisions Mercedes made during the Dutch GP largely damaged the squad. However, when the F1 arrives at the Italian Grand Prix, we will undoubtedly be able to see the full potential of the Brackley-based team.

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Written by:

Aditya Srivastava

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Aditya Srivastava is an F1 writer at EssentiallySports with over two years of writing experience. He developed a keen interest in the sport after the unforgettable Abu Dhabi 2021 race. As a graduate of a premier institute, Aditya is committed to producing high-quality content that is engaging, informative, and accurate.
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Edited by:

Akash Pandhare