Mercedes drivers understand team axe warning

  • Published on 14 Dec 2015 11:14
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff thinks the dominant team's two drivers have heard his warning about the intensity of their feud. As the 2015 season ended recently with the silver camp sweeping 16 of the 19 wins, Wolff nonetheless warned that if Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg's bickering spills into the overall "team spirit", Mercedes would have to make a change.

"The drivers know what I meant," Wolff said at the weekend at Mercedes' end-of-year 'Stars and Cars' event in Stuttgart, when asked about his recent comments. "The spirit of the team is essential -- it is one of the qualities that makes us what we are now."

Nico Rosberg, however, said he thinks that spirit is intact, adding: "I have to thank Toto for his great management. If he has a few extra grey hairs, I guess that is our fault!" And Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport also quoted world champion Lewis Hamilton as adding: "I very much agree with Nico -- I don't think there was anything negative about our competition this year. We will continue to communicate and correct ourselves if there are problems -- but there isn't a problem," said the Briton.

Wolff, meanwhile, continued: "We do not want this to be understood in any way as us limiting the duel between Lewis in Nico. Our philosophy was clear that we wanted to have two top drivers in the team in order to win the world championship. But although we are very competitive, it is important to know how to contain the situation and prevent damage to the team," he added.

Finally, Hamilton spoke about his mysterious end-of-year form slump, in which Rosberg rounded out the season with a hat-trick of dominant wins from pole. "Actually I look at it as a blessing in disguise," he is quoted as saying. "If I had won them, I would have had so many wins in the season and I might have approached next one with less of a buzz," said Hamilton.

Trying to explain the reason for the slump, meanwhile, he added: "I'm sure it was a combination of things. "First there is the great job done by Nico, then I believe he adapted very well to the changes to the car, and once I won the championship - although I was still pushing - maybe subconsciously I was a bit more relaxed," he said. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 3,162
  • Podiums 127
  • Grand Prix 187
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (39)
  • Place of b. Tewin, GB
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar