user icon
user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Hired to be me, and to race my heart out - Hamilton

Hired to be me, and to race my heart out - Hamilton

  • Published on 29 Jul 2014 12:46
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Lewis Hamilton has hit back at suggestions he was wrong to ignore team orders during Sunday's Hungarian grand prix. Niki Lauda, who after Hamilton's qualifying fire had cheered the Briton up over pizza, insisting with typical clarity that the driver was "right" and the German team "wrong". "Lewis ignored it because he remembered before the season that we said they could fight freely against each other. "That's why he did the right thing," the great Austrian told Bild newspaper.

Not everyone is as convinced. The headline in the major German daily Welt claims Mercedes is the victim of "Hamilton's ego-show". "With his disobedience, Hamilton weakened the authority of the team leadership and provoked his teammate Nico Rosberg, for a comparatively low reward."

But according to Hamilton, that's not the point. On Monday, he insisted he is "hired to race". "It is not questioning authority," the 2008 world champion explained. "I am hired to be me, and race my heart out."

Team boss Toto Wolff and Rosberg agreed after the race that Hamilton's defiance had cost Mercedes a race win. Again, Hamilton doesn't see it that way. "I did not cost Nico a win," he insisted. "I was racing against him! Why would I be concerned for him? I don't think I was being ruthless. I was not even being bloody minded. I was doing my job. I tried my hardest to be ahead and I don't feel as though I was obligated to help."

John Watson, a former F1 driver turned commentator, thinks the problem is home grown. "Is Toto Wolff more interested in projecting himself?" he wondered. "Does he really have the authority?" the former McLaren driver told the Daily Mail.

"Paddy Lowe is a fantastic guy, but he is not the person to deal with this. Lauda is a very clever man, but I don't know what authority he has. If there was one person who could kick ass in that team, it is the person that they let go, Ross (Brawn)," said Watson. (GMM)
F1 News Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Mercedes McLaren
<< Previous article Next article >>

Trending news

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

Related news

Test calendar

Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing

Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

World Championship standings 2020

Pos
Team
Points
1
Mercedes
435
2
Red Bull Racing
226
3
Racing Point
141
4
McLaren
124
5
Renault
120
6
Ferrari
93
7
Alpha Tauri
77
8
Alfa Romeo Racing
5
9
Haas F1
3
Show full world champion standings

Driver profile

GB Lewis Hamilton 44
Lewis Hamilton
  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 2,201
  • Podiums 91
  • Grand Prix 114
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (35)
  • Place of b. Tewin, United Kingdom
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Mercedes
Mercedes
Show full profile

Formula 1 Calendar - 2020

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Spain
3 - Jul 5
Austria
Red Bull Ring
10 - Jul 12
Austria
Red Bull Ring
17 - Jul 19
Hungary
Hungaroring
31 - Aug 2
United Kingdom
Silverstone
7 - Aug 9
United Kingdom
Silverstone
14 - Aug 16
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Aug 30
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
4 - Sep 6
Italy
Monza
11 - Sep 13
Italy
Mugello
25 - Sep 27
Russian
Sochi Autodrom
9 - Oct 11
Germany
Nurburgring
23 - Oct 25
Portugal
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
31 - Nov 1
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2020

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
-
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
3 - Jul 5
Austria Red Bull Ring
10 - Jul 12
Austria Red Bull Ring
17 - Jul 19
Hungary Hungaroring
31 - Aug 2
United Kingdom Silverstone
7 - Aug 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
14 - Aug 16
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Aug 30
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
4 - Sep 6
Italy Monza
11 - Sep 13
Italy Mugello
25 - Sep 27
Russian Sochi Autodrom
9 - Oct 11
Germany Nurburgring
23 - Oct 25
Portugal Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
31 - Nov 1
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
See full schedule
show sidebar