Lewis Hamilton got into a radio skirmish with Toto Wolff in Austria over the weekend. Credit: Getty Images/Bryn Lennon
Lewis Hamilton arrived at Silverstone this week after a tough weekend in Austria, to say the least. Not only did Mercedes fall behind the pace, dampening hopes they may have turned the corner with their recent upgrade package, but a fiery exchange with his team principal Toto Wolff on the team radio at Spielberg, which then dominated the early headlines. this week. You could do without it.
Of course, Toto subsequently quickly dispelled any thoughts that actually telling Lewis to “shut up and drive the car”, instead of constantly communicating his frustration with the lane limit fines and driving difficulties, was supposed to be some kind of gap between them. Toto even joked: “You should have heard us talking on the phone!” It was nothing!” (which, of course, begs the question: is it sometimes worse? Interesting!)
And yes, Toto was right in one sense. It was a small thing. Of course, in my time between riders and team leaders would have been much more heated skirmishes, although, oddly enough, I never found myself in their center. Maybe I was too good, but I never exchanged bad words with my bosses! The closest I came was probably in a rainy Spa in 1998 after Michael Schumacher crashed leaving me and my Jordan teammate Ralf Schumacher in first and second place. I told Eddie very bluntly that he had a choice: let's race and risk crashing or tell Ralph to back off. He did the last.
Years later, when we played golf, Eddie claimed that I said I would “put Ralph in the wall” if he didn't tell him to back off. Complete nonsense! The exchange can be viewed on YouTube. Eddie was just Eddie.
The Mercedes fared worse despite many updates in Austria. Photo: Getty Images/Rudy Carezzevoli
But yes, compared to the days before when Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet and James Hunt inflated their pads, the exchange between Toto and Lewis was pretty small.
However, in the feverish and shark-infested waters of Formula 1, there will always be people making assumptions. After all, Austria was about as close to a crushing defeat for Mercedes as you could get without being one. After hopes were revived following recent changes in philosophy, personnel and results, which peaked in Canada, a race shortly before Austria where Lewis, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso could have their photo taken on the podium and flaunt their total of 11 world drivers titles. One would be forgiven for thinking, as I'm sure Lewis did, that his team is back on the hunt.
And all this in the midst of Lewis's protracted contract negotiations. He is, if we forget, the best driver in the history of Formula 1. It must cost a few shillings, right?
It all adds to the intrigue, especially given that we are now at Silverstone, where Lewis has enjoyed many of his best moments, giving his loyal fans everything they could hope for and more. Over the years (to use the phrase) he “walked this stage like a Colossus.” What should he be thinking now? Ended the contract at the end of the year on a car that had an accident?
Lewis doesn't make humiliations. But the pressure, of course, is on both him and Toto. It won't make it any easier that their sworn enemies, Max Verstappen and Red Bull, are not only on the rise, but also not going to fall in the near future. In fact, if they win this one, Red Bull will equal McLaren's amazing record of 11 consecutive wins in 1988 when, aside from a single mistake at Monza over the backmarker, they nearly won all 16.
< p>Red Bull is on the verge of establishing itself as one of the greatest racing teams of all time. They recently scored a century of racing victories and winning every race in a 23-race season doesn't look entirely impossible.
So what's in store for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton?
Well, there could be a small streak of light on the horizon in the form of new powertrain proposals for 2026 that require manufacturers to produce half power from their electric motors and half from internal combustion engines. Red Bull's Christian Horner does not seem to like this new proposal and complains that it would require absurd design and driving strategies to implement. Max is generally not ashamed of his words, but also confirmed this rejection by saying that the 2026 rules look “pretty terrible.”
Will the 2026 regulation change change the fate of Mercedes? Credit: Getty Images/Bryn Lennon
Toto, in turn, suggested that Red Bull is trying to change the deal they all signed up to, which has played a key role in bringing new big names into the sport, like Audi, who will gradually buy Alfa Romeo over the next few seasons. adding that Horner only objects because he's worried about how to get the performance needed to stay on top.
Wishful thinking? Maybe. But given that Red Bull had to go it alone with their powertrain plans after Honda pulled out (before immediately announcing they would join Aston Martin), maybe Toto is right and Red Bull is genuinely concerned.< /p>
Of course, if I were Lewis, I'd like some assurance that Mercedes is ahead of the curve before spending another three years at Brackley. But then, if the buzz from Red Bull means they're worried, then Lewis could be a winner with Mercedes in 2026.
For now, Lewis and Mercedes just have to get over it. The crowds at the British Grand Prix this weekend should at least cheer them on. They are lagging behind, but I don't think anyone, especially Lewis, has ever been to Silverstone and hasn't been supported. I know I was at the time. Full house at Silverstone? Nothing like that.
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