Khaleej Times

Wolff issues rallying cry for luckless Hamilton’s title bid

- AFP

spielberg — 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

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 Toto Wolff

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 head-rest and had to start Sunday’s race at the Red Bull Ring from eighth on the grid due to an unschedule­d gearbox change.

Championsh­ip leader and fourtime champion 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.

“He didn’t have a great time in the race because he was suffering from the car and the tyres, he didn’t have a great time with the gear-box troubles and the headrest.

“So it’s about time that this changes. The momentum goes in the other direction... Lewis is still right in the fight. —

 ?? AFP ?? Lewis Hamilton gets a pit service during the Formula One Austria Grand Prix on Sunday. —
AFP Lewis Hamilton gets a pit service during the Formula One Austria Grand Prix on Sunday. —

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