Mercedes’ team principal, Toto Wolff, passionately insists that they are indebted to Lewis Hamilton, owing him nothing short of an eighth glorious triumph in the prestigious Formula 1 World Championship. In his commendation of Hamilton’s diverse pursuits outside the racing world, Wolff emphasizes the profound admiration the team holds for their star driver.
During the 2021 season, Hamilton had meticulously paved his way towards securing an unprecedented eighth title, poised to shatter the longstanding joint-record of seven championships shared with the legendary Michael Schumacher. However, a contentious decision surrounding a Safety Car restart in Abu Dhabi ensued, allowing Hamilton’s formidable rival, Max Verstappen, to skillfully overtake him on the ultimate lap of the race, ruthlessly seizing the crown from his grasp.
Since that heart-wrenching moment, Hamilton has been unable to reclaim victory, as Mercedes has encountered significant challenges throughout the exhilarating ground effects era, enduring a difficult year and a half on the Formula 1 circuit. Meanwhile, Verstappen appears to be on the verge of clinching a remarkable third title later in the ongoing season, further intensifying the urgency for Mercedes to deliver their promise to Hamilton.
With unwavering determination, Hamilton has publicly declared his refusal to retire until he attains his well-deserved eighth championship, magnifying the stakes for both himself and the Mercedes team. Toto Wolff, cognizant of the gravity of the situation, shares a deep-seated desire to fulfill Hamilton’s relentless pursuit of glory, acknowledging the immense significance of securing this milestone achievement for the remarkable 103-time Grand Prix victor.
Speaking in Downing Street after a meeting with F1 chief Stefano Domenicali, the bosses of the seven UK-based F1 teams Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport, Lucy Frazer, and advisors to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Wolff made clear his intentions.
“Lewis Hamilton is clearly the most important personality in our sport, he is so multi-dimensional,” he said.
“It is not only the racing driver and World Champion but he is also trailblazing for diversity and sustainability.
“There are no limits for Lewis Hamilton as an entrepreneur as a politician. I think he is one of the most spectacular personalities and characters I’ve ever met.
“We owe him an eighth championship.”
Domenicali went on to say that he agreed with Wolff’s evaluation of Hamilton’s “incredible personality, and that has demonstrated he raises the power of interests in a lot of topics.”
