The intense relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg had become "negative" for Mercedes. That is the claim of Toto Wolff, as he puts a positive spin on the reigning world champions' new driver lineup of Hamilton alongside Valtteri Bottas. The team boss insisted he was never really angry at Rosberg for suddenly calling it quits after winning the 2016 title, despite having a firm contract for 2017 and beyond.
"Not at all," Wolff told Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper. "I immediately tried to see the opportunity of the situation. On the one hand, Nico was a top performer who pushed himself and his teammate to top performances. On the other hand, the rivalry between him and Lewis had become so intense that it was a negative for the team," Wolff added. "We always had to deal with the things that came up as a result of these animosities rather than taking care of performance issues, which was not good."
So although names like the fiery Fernando Alonso were mentioned to fill Rosberg's seat, Mercedes ultimate plumped for the quiet Finn Valtteri Bottas. "I'm expecting some quieter times," admitted Wolff. "But if Valtteri is really good and the two of them are close to each other, it can be just as difficult, I am under no illusions," he said. "Even Bottas knows that he has little time to prove himself. We cannot afford to put someone in the car who is not fast enough and doesn't push Lewis. But his personality played a role. Valtteri is extremely quiet, not political, not manipulative. Pairing him with Lewis is the right combination," Wolff insisted.
Indeed, it is character as well as inexperience that also played against Pascal Wehrlein getting the seat instead. "He can drive a car very well but he is also an explosive character, like Mr Hamilton," said Wolff. "In the car that is quite positive, but in combination with Lewis we needed to take into consideration this explosiveness. There is one name from history in which there was a real explosion between two drivers. Our Spanish friend (Fernando Alonso) left us with these scars," Wolff added. (GMM)
Character as well as inexperience played against Wehrlein
- Published on 21 Mar 2017 13:32
-
1
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
James Vowles: Budget cap blocks immediate Williams weight fixWilliams team principal James Vowles has revealed that while the technical solutions to fix the overweight FW48 are a...
16 Mar 2026 14:59 -
Verstappen looks to Nürburgring return after F1 "horror weekend"Following a disastrous performance in the Chinese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen is turning his focus toward his upcoming...
16 Mar 2026 11:56 -
Sergio Pérez warns of "inevitable" crash under new F1 start rulesCadillac driver Sergio Pérez has issued a stark warning to Formula 1 and the FIA, claiming that a major accide...
16 Mar 2026 16:10 -
Alonso on Honda criticism: "I seemed crazy ten years ago"Fernando Alonso believes his historical criticisms of Honda's power units have finally been vindicated by the cur...
16 Mar 2026 13:59 -
Peter Bonnington: Kimi Antonelli has the "extra tenth" of SchumacherMercedes engineer Peter Bonnington has offered high praise for Kimi Antonelli following the young Italian's maide...
16 Mar 2026 12:57
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2025
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Driver profile
- Team -
- Points -
- Podiums -
- Grand Prix -
- Country DE
- Date of b. Oct 18 1994 (31)
- Place of b. Sigmaringen, DE
- Weight 61 kg
- Length 1.77 m
4 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Pascal Wehrlein
Team profile
- Team name Mercedes
- Base Brackley, Germany
- Michael Schumacher 3
- Nico Rosberg 4
- Nico Rosberg 6
- Michael Schumacher 7
- Nico Rosberg 8
- Nico Rosberg 8
- Nico Rosberg 9
- Lewis Hamilton 10
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli 12
- Lewis Hamilton 44
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- 631,954 comments on Mercedes
- 58 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Mercedes
Replies (1)
Login to replyDert
Posts: 1
>>Our Spanish friend
LOL xD