Wolff on awkward chat with Hamilton: ‘No division or blaming’

Seven-time world champion Hamilton conceded that he would not be able to challenge for the F1 title this season after Saturday’s sprint race, where he finished 14th ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday.

Hamilton and Wolff had previously met in an awkward-looking exchange in the Mercedes garage after another disappointing practice session.

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“It’s quite funny how it is being interpreted,” team principal Wolff said about that encounter. 

“Lewis and I shared frustration that we weren’t really able to extract lap one performance and how annoying it was. 

“But it was the same point of view and sheer anger. 

“No, there is no division or blaming or anything like that. There is pressure in the system, but I would say the necessary pressure to get things right.

“Nobody in the team is anywhere near enjoying the ride at the moment and this team, we have done it in the past, we just need to dig ourselves out of this hole.”

Lewis Hamilton admits he can't win 2022 F1 title

Asked about Hamilton’s admission that he could not challenge for the F1 2022 title, Wolff said: “We are four races in and today marks the low of the first four races. It is obvious that we are not anywhere near the fight at the front. It would be a pretty unrealistic to claim we have a slot among the frontrunners fighting for the championship.”

Wolff explained how he would keep frustrations under control: “I think you have to acknowledge that you have a degree of frustration, rather than trying to paint yourself a too optimistic picture and you need to set the right expectations. 

“I tell you, that’s not an easy endeavour. 

“That’s nothing to do with the past because the eight victories are, at the moment, of no importance at all. 

“But it is simply the fact of where we are at the moment and we I think we have a direction where we know how to unlock the potential that’s in the car that will bring us much closer, but at the moment we haven’t got the key. So we need to just grind away and rely on the science and physics before spiralling into some kind of negative momentum, which we are not.”

Will Lewis Hamilton quit F1?

Wolff was asked if he feared Hamilton could quit F1 amid Mercedes’ struggles, and he replied: “All of us who are involved in this have our good moments and bad moments, we have the optimism and pessimism. 

“But as it stands we have just come out of a conversation where it was really to say: what are the avenues that we need to embark on? 

“I see no difference in the determination and passion for sorting this out, getting back in the game and winning races and fighting for championship. That is the discussion we just had 20 minutes ago.”

A frustrated Hamilton said after Saturday’s sprint: “The team has been through many, many bad years. Most of the people I’m working with have been here 20 years. It wasn’t the greatest of years in 2013 but we’ve had great years since then. 

“We stick together and try to motivate everyone. This is the situation we are faced with. Everyone has got their heads down and working as hard as they can. 

“We are obviously not fighting for the championship but we are fighting to understand the car, improve and progress through the year. 

“That’s all we can hope for, right now.” 

Hamilton said the only positives of this weekend were: “We have got data. A lot of work is going on in the background. But this is what it is, it is what we have. 

“Ultimately, we haven’t got it right this year but everyone is working hard to correct it.”