Breaking news
Formula 1 Monaco GP
Wolff: Venting fury over reliability issues would make things worse
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says tearing a strip off his mechanics for the team's ongoing reliability problems will achieve nothing, as he thinks now is the time they need even more support.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: May 29, 2016, 11:33 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Brackley-based outfit lost its chance of pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were hit by fuel pressure problems at the start of Q3.
Coming off the back of the MGU-H failures that have hit Hamilton in recent qualifying, the team is aware that its situation could prove extremely costly in the championship if it does not address its issue.
But Wolff thinks there is no reason to panic, as the staff members involved with the outfit are the exact same ones who have helped it deliver back-to-back championship glory.
"This car, the engine, everything you see is a product of humans," said Wolff. "Those humans have made us win god knows how many races and two championships, and these are the best guys. I wouldn't want to work with anybody else.
"We are going through a tough time and I want to continue like we did in the past. We are not blaming any person, but we are trying to identify the root cause of the problem and try to not make the mistake again. That is very important.
"It would be so easy in these circumstances to go in, apply huge pressure, give somebody a bollocking and hope it is going to work out. But that is not how it is working.
"You need to support them and empower them, more in these circumstances than the opposite. I expect the same from Dr. Zetsche as well."
Problems the norm
Hamilton was far from happy about the latest reliability problem to affect his season.
Having suffered qualifying woes with MGU-H problems in China and Russia, the fuel pressure issues in Monaco had delivered another dent to his title hopes.
When asked if he could remember a season hit by such reliability woes, Hamilton said: "I don't. I have had many bad years in racing, and this is another one. It is just becoming the norm now."
Wolff said he was not too put out by Hamilton's comments – and said that the mounting frustrations the reigning world champion was feeling were to be expected.
"Lewis wears his heart on his sleeve and, when he has a bad day you can see that," he explained. "It is fair enough.
"This is his character. With some drivers you see the frustrations and with others you won't. It is clear that we are all sad about the situation and having those gremlins have spoiled our performance."
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 Berger handling Rosberg's F1 contract talks
Next article Prost: Red Bull could be surprise F1 title contenders
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
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”
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
More from
Mercedes
Max Verstappen stars with 15-place charge in 45 minutes: 'I learned a lot and had fun'
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
Portimão
Max Verstappen stars with 15-place charge in 45 minutes: 'I learned a lot and had fun'
Latest news
Toyota answers critics who doubted it could win in WEC’s competitive Hypercar era
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
1 h
Toyota answers critics who doubted it could win in WEC’s competitive Hypercar era
Honda ADUO engine upgrade pegged driveability back near Spec 1 level
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
Honda ADUO engine upgrade pegged driveability back near Spec 1 level
Why Alex Marquez hasn't been able to replicate his 2025 MotoGP form
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP 2 h
Why Alex Marquez hasn't been able to replicate his 2025 MotoGP form
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 3 h
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
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