Toto exit wouldn’t cut Lew
LEWIS HAMILTON wants Toto Wolff to stay at Mercedes – but insists the Austrian’s possible departure will have no impact on his own future.
Hamilton will start today’s Spanish Grand Prix on pole, in prime position to extend his 30-point title lead.
The six-time world champion edged out his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas by just 0.059 seconds at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen third.
Wolff has presided over Mercedes’ unprecedented run of six straight drivers’ and constructors’ championships but is considering bowing out at the end of the campaign.
Hamilton has said previously that his future could hinge on the movements of the Mercedes team principal, with the British driver’s £40million-a
year contract up for renewal in five months.
“What you have to remember is it’s a team game, and there are 2,000 people at Mercedes,” said Hamilton.
“It is not down to one individual, so it doesn’t determine whether I stay.
“Everyone has to do what is best for them, their career and their happiness.
“I hope Toto stays because it’s fun working with him and fun negotiating with him and fun having ups and downs.
“But at the same time I will be supportive in whatever he decides to do.”
Hamilton will be red-hot favourite at a circuit where he has been the winner for the last three races, adding: “I love this place, it suits me. I couldn’t go any quicker. Thankfully I finished up doing a good job.”
Verstappen, winner of the last race at Silverstone, said: “I just hope we can be a bit closer in the race.” 1 Hamilton 2 Bottas 3 Verstappen 4 Perez 5 Stroll
(Day 3 of 5)
THE AGEAS BOWL: Pakistan 223-9
Shan Masood lbw b Anderson 1
Abid Ali c Burns b Curran 60
*Azhar Ali c Burns b Anderson 20
Babar Azam c Buttler b Broad 47
Asad Shafiq c Sibley b Broad 5
Fawad Alam lbw b Woakes 0 †Mohammad Rizwan not out 60
Yasir Shah c Buttler b Anderson 5 Shaheen Afridi run out 0 Mohammad Abbas lbw b Broad 2 Naseem Shah not out 1
B9 lb11 w1 nb1 22
Total (9 wkts, 86 overs) 223
Fall: 6, 78, 102, 117, 120, 158, 171, 176, 215.
Bowling: Anderson 24-5-48-3, Broad 25-7
56-3, Curran 18-3-44-1, Woakes 19-3-55-1.
Umpires: R Kettleborough & M Gough.
No Play Yesterday due to rain.