Wolff calls for support in Hamilton’s title bid
FORMULA ONE Mercedes boss feels it’s time the team rallied back
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff has issued a rallying cry for Lewis Hamilton’s title bid after another dose of bad luck cost him points in Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.
The Austrian boss, who saw Valtteri Bottas claim his second win of the year for Mercedes and move into contention for the drivers’ championship, said Hamilton had suffered from a run of misfortune.
“In my opinion Lewis had all the bad luck that you can have,” he told reporters.
“We’ve let him down with the head-rest, we’ve let him down with the gearbox. Now it’s about time to fight back and hopefully that’s going to happen in Silverstone.”
The luckless Hamilton was deprived of a near certain victory in last month’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix when he was forced to pit for repairs to a loose headrest and had to start Sunday’s race at the Red Bull Ring from eighth on the grid due to an unscheduled gearbox change.
Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari finished second and extended his lead ahead of the Briton to 20 points, with Bottas 19 points adrift in third.
“I feel that he didn’t have a great time most recently,” said Wolff. “So it’s about time that this changes. The momentum goes in the other direction... Lewis is still right in the fight.
“It’s not even half time in the championship and there are 275 points still to be won. Our target will be to let him fight back in the best possible way in Silverstone.”
A deflated Hamilton was in downcast mood after Sunday’s race, but is certain to recover his poise and be back to his best for his home race this week when he will bid to put recent setbacks behind him.