Breaking news
Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP
Lowe messages to Hamilton were "highest escalation"
Mercedes says that Paddy Lowe's involvement in the radio instructions to Lewis Hamilton during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was proof that the situation had reached "the highest escalation" possible.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Nov 29, 2016, 11:34 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
After Hamilton ignored various instructions to pick up his speed from his engineers, Mercedes executive director Lowe came over the radio to urge Hamilton to go faster.
"We need you to pick up the pace," he said.
In response, Hamilton again declined to pick up his pace and said: "I'm in the lead right now. I'm quite comfortable where I am."
Speaking afterwards about how the events unfolded, Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff explained that having Lowe issue instructions was significant.
"Paddy with the instruction is the highest escalation we have in the rules of engagement," he said. "We have invented those rules of engagement together, a while ago, in Melbourne, on the table."
When asked if he himself considered issuing instructions, Wolff said: "No, because I haven't got the button to do that. I know myself, there is a risk I would do it, and I would have done it on several occasions in the past, and maybe regretted it afterwards.
"You know the famous Wolfgang Ullrich thing in Austria [relating to an instruction to take out an Audi rival]. You need to know yourself, and your strengths and weaknesses, and I know my weaknesses."
Although Wolff had said before the grand prix that Mercedes would not interfere in the battle between its drivers, he explained the radio messages to Hamilton came about because the team feared it was going to lose the grand prix to Ferrari.
"There were two moments in the race when there was a risk strategy that we would be losing the race. One was [Max] Verstappen, because it was not clear whether he was on a one stop; he was in a good position.
"The other was [Sebastian] Vettel lapping two seconds quicker. Our number one principle for the past three years – and this doesn't matter if it's the first race or the last – is to secure the win.
"You can question that, whether it's the right principle going forward, but that's exactly what we did on the pit wall – there were these two moments and this is why we asked him to increase the pace."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Haas has more scope to improve in 2017 than rivals - Grosjean
Next article Sainz: I would have done the same in Hamilton's position
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Lewis Hamilton
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
2 h
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
More from
Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
12 h
Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Latest news
Marc Marquez: ‘Jorge Martin rides on instinct; he just attacks, and that’s his strength’
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
6 min
Marc Marquez: ‘Jorge Martin rides on instinct; he just attacks, and that’s his strength’
Lamborghini Super Trofeo | North America, Race 2: Bamber dominates to take the win
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
8 min
Lamborghini Super Trofeo | North America, Race 2: Bamber dominates to take the win
Belgian firm to take over Renault/Alpine engine facility in Viry
WEC
WEC WEC 36 min
Belgian firm to take over Renault/Alpine engine facility in Viry
Jorge Martin the slowest Aprilia in Australia practice: “I'm used to riding with the Ducati here”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Jorge Martin the slowest Aprilia in Australia practice: “I'm used to riding with the Ducati here”
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe