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 2023

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 - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
-
Spain
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
-
Italy
-
Italy
-
Italy
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 3,154
  • Podiums 127
  • Grand Prix 184
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (38)
  • Place of b. Tewin, GB
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar