Skip to main content

Recommended for you

Enea Bastianini: "I've been waiting a long time for this moment"

MotoGP
MotoGP
Japanese GP
Enea Bastianini: "I've been waiting a long time for this moment"

Marc Marquez sent body double to Motegi kart race: “We are not here to mess around or drive go karts"

MotoGP
MotoGP
Japanese GP
Marc Marquez sent body double to Motegi kart race: “We are not here to mess around or drive go karts"

F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia descends into chaos as car trouble prompts red flag

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia descends into chaos as car trouble prompts red flag

Kyle Larson debates purpose of stage points, call them "participation awards"

NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Las Vegas II
Kyle Larson debates purpose of stage points, call them "participation awards"

Marc Marquez: 'We could have used the hard tyre for qualifying!'

MotoGP
MotoGP
Japanese GP
Marc Marquez: 'We could have used the hard tyre for qualifying!'

F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia start delayed as thunderstorms hit Sepang

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia start delayed as thunderstorms hit Sepang

LIVE: F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Max Verstappen leads Mercedes duo

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
LIVE: F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Max Verstappen leads Mercedes duo

Josh Berry on Las Vegas practice crash: 'It's a shame to be that slow and blow a tire'

NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Las Vegas II
Josh Berry on Las Vegas practice crash: 'It's a shame to be that slow and blow a tire'

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.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid is pushed back in the pits during qualifying
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid in the pits
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid is pushed back in the pits during qualifying
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid

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."

Previous article Berger handling Rosberg's F1 contract talks
Next article Prost: Red Bull could be surprise F1 title contenders

Top Comments

Latest news