Wolff slates critics who claim Hamilton only wins due to Mercedes advantage

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has hit back at claims Lewis Hamilton is only able to win due to the performance of his car each year.

Mercedes again has the best car on the grid this season, highlighted by its 100 per cent pole record and nine wins from 11 races, with Hamilton taking the chequered flag on seven occasions.

They are statistics that have become the norm since the introduction of the V6 turbo-hybrid era in 2014, with Mercedes poised to clinch a record-breaking seventh consecutive constructors' championship, and Hamilton his sixth title with the German manufacturer.

It has led many to suggest Hamilton has only achieved his success due to the superiority of his cars over the years, only for Wolff to scoff at such claims.

Questioned on the subject, Wolff replied, "I read that and in my opinion, it is not fair. Winning races and winning championships is always a team exercise in this sport.

"You need to put yourself in the position that you end up in the best car. You can see the best talents and skilled drivers took wrong decisions or badly advised decisions.

"In that respect, it was him that joined Mercedes in 2013; it is him that sits in the car and is able to execute on track with a tool we provide to him but it is always two that is part of this.

"We couldn't achieve the records we have, and he couldn't achieve the records without the right car. Full stop."

Hamilton is far from the first driver to face such claims as Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher were also accused of only winning because of driving a dominant car.

To those drivers questioning the legitimacy of Hamilton's records, however, Wolff had a clear message.

He said: "I don't want to allow these voices that say he drives a Mercedes, it is obvious he wins a lot of races, the drivers who say that, they should analyse why they haven't found their way into Mercedes."

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