Hamilton raised some eyebrows on the Monaco Grand Prix when he steered he can be unable to ever outqualify Russell once more this season – and was at pains to level out his team-mate had unique use of a brand new entrance wing for Monte Carlo.
INSIGHT: Why Russell got new Mercedes F1 front wing over Hamilton in Monaco
Though it subsequently emerged that Hamilton had turned down the chance to run the wing as a result of he didn’t need to danger a pitlane begin if it was broken in qualifying, the seven-time champion’s feedback about Russell holding the benefit hinted at some concern about issues not being completely even between them.
That could be a suggestion Wolff says just isn’t primarily based on actuality. He claims that the one time all through Mercedes’ trendy period in F1 when it has stepped in to affect a battle between team-mates was on the 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
This was when Hamilton tried to again Nico Rosberg into the pack throughout their title showdown, and was repeatedly urged from the pitwall to select up his tempo.
Requested if Hamilton’s feedback about Russell have been an indication that there was some paranoia that he was not getting equal remedy as a result of he was leaving on the finish of the yr, Wolff mentioned: “Aren’t all drivers a bit sceptical at occasions?
“I believe as a workforce we’ve got demonstrated, even in essentially the most tense competitions between team-mates, that we try to all the time steadiness it proper, and be clear and honest.
“I believe there was not a second, other than the 2016 Abu Dhabi GP, the place we tried to handle a race, and we’ve not performed since then.
“I can perceive that as a driver you need the most effective out of your self and the workforce, and generally when it is going in opposition to you, you may query.
“However as a workforce we’re 100% on a mission of giving the 2 drivers two nice automobiles, the absolute best automobiles and very best methods and help.”
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Staff, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Staff
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Hamilton’s relationship with the workforce was put within the highlight all through the Monaco weekend, as there have been various different moments when he questioned Mercedes’ actions.
There was his ‘I instructed you guys’ message about having to take the Monaco restart on mediums due to the workforce’s preliminary onerous alternative, after which the miscommunication that meant he didn’t push to the utmost on his out-lap from a tyre change to undercut Max Verstappen.
Wolff mentioned that tensions within the system have been all simply part of everybody eager to ship every part they may in troublesome circumstances.
“We’re attempting to do the most effective out of the connection, and attempting to maximise the outcomes for what’s the ultimate season,” mentioned Wolff. “And like all the time between drivers, it may be tense at occasions as a result of all people needs to do the most effective.”
And, whereas Russell has outqualified Hamilton seven occasions to 1 thus far this yr, Wolff didn’t see that as proof of issues staying that method all season.
“I do not assume there’s a particular clarification for the statistic, but it surely’s nonetheless a statistic,” he mentioned. “We’re seven races in and there are one other 17 to go. I’ve not seen this as a pattern.”
Each Hamilton and Russell will get the brand new Mercedes entrance wing for the subsequent race in Canada as a part of the improve push that the German producer is unleashing.
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