P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Toto Wolff in Lewis Hamilton disagreement as Mercedes chief responds to Ferrari criticism
Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff has openly disagreed with Lewis Hamilton’s views on his challenges at Ferrari, where the seven-time world champion moved to fulfill a lifelong dream, but has yet to secure a podium finish in his 10 races with the team. Despite Hamilton taking responsibility for his underwhelming performances, Wolff has defended him, highlighting the adjustment period required when changing teams and emphasizing the need for alignment between the car, driving style, and engineering team. Wolff expressed confidence in Hamilton’s ability to adapt and succeed at Ferrari, pointing out the driver’s historical trend of improving performance in the second half of seasons. Stressing their friendship off the track and mutual respect despite competing interests on it, Wolff affirmed his continued support for Hamilton as the Brit navigates his transition to the Italian outfit. Hamilton will aim to kickstart his Ferrari journey at the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix, as he seeks to enhance his ranking in the standings and showcase his driving prowess in the new environment.
