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F1 commentator Peter Windsor is disappointed with Toto Wolff's approach during the race in Austria. Specifically, Mercedes' boss told Hamilton on the radio that he understands the car is bad, but he should keep driving regardless.
Since Windsor considers Wolff's behavior to be a great disrespect to Hamilton, he does not understand why he acted that way.
“There was a comment from Toto Wolff two-thirds of the way through the race which, for me, left a little bit of a bad taste in the mouth because it was Lewis again going on about track limits.
It was a bit like that comment to Charles Leclerc in Canada – a bit schoolmaster talking to the pupil – and he said: ‘Yes, Lewis, we know the car is bad. Get on and drive the race, please.’ I just thought, ‘Wow’, [firstly] for all the song and dance about the [upgrades] and how improvements are there and they’re moving forward and the setup and getting the tyres in the right window.
And [secondly], to speak to Lewis like that – ‘get on and race’ – this guy’s a seven-times World Champion, he does deserve a little bit more respect than that, I think."- he said.
Peter Windsor reacts
Peter Windsor felt uncomfortable hearing that.
A popular commentator believes that such situations have become more common within the Mercedes team in recent years. Due to the nature of his car, Lewis Hamilton will be unable to achieve a good result in these conditions.
“I just felt a little bit uneasy hearing that. It probably goes on all the time but I just wish we didn’t hear all the radio all the time if it’s going to be like that. I’m surprised. If anything’s going to be driving Lewis crazy it’s going to be stuff like that because, if nothing else, he wants to enjoy his racing now.
There’s not much else to do because he ain’t going to be winning, the car’s not very good, he’s got the British Grand Prix coming up – his race, if you like – so at least just enjoy it even if he’s midfield." Lewis Hamilton seems to be able to handle pressure and similar situations well.
However, if things like this continue, we can hardly expect good things within the Mercedes team. Having Hamilton react calmly in these situations would be great, according to Windsor. Nevertheless, the question is what goes on behind the scenes.
“But if you’re going to be spoken to like that by your team principal it’s not really fun either, is it? I wouldn’t have thought it was anyway. Maybe Lewis can shrug it off. He seems to be able to shrug everything else off [that’s happened] over the last two years very impressively, so good luck to him if he can do that”.
Source: Planet F1