Mercedes needs to 'work on trust' after Hamilton again questions strategy - Wolff
Mercedes needs to 'work on trust' after Hamilton again questions strategy - Wolff
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has conceded the team need to work "on the communication to trust each other" after Lewis Hamilton again questioned the team's strategy calls.
Hamilton and the Mercedes pit wall combined over the radio in Russia to take a masterful victory as rain fell late on but in Turkey, Hamilton's questioning left him in somewhat of a strategic no man's land.
Hamilton had taken his balding intermediate tyres to within eight laps of the chequered flag after ignoring earlier calls to pit from his strategy team before eventually stopping.
But Hamilton was left without time to work through the graining phase of his new set of tyres and make progress, a fate that could have been avoided had he not gone against the calls to 'box' eight laps prior.
"I think we just really need to work on the communication to trust each other and in a way be able to describe what we are aiming for," explained Wolff.
“We have no problem at all with tough conversations on the radio before you have complete information and obviously, we wouldn’t speak like this to Lewis because he is driving the car at 320kmph.
“But that is all okay, so absolutely we are totally aligned. We have been together for eight years and we have thick skin enough to understand that a driver in the car is just frustrated about a situation but he will understand afterwards.”
Fifth place resulted In Hamilton leaving Turkey with a six-point deficit to Max Verstappen in the standings after the Dutchman finished second.
Asked how Mercedes could be more forceful with instructions to its drivers, Wolff added: “It’s very difficult because the communication needs to flow in both directions and that is crucial.
"The pilot is the vital sensor on track that will tell you about the grip levels.
“But the pilot doesn’t see himself relative to the other drivers and the other performances.
"So that information we need to work on because we’ve had what Lewis called a ‘genius stroke’ in terms of strategy last time around."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Leclerc pictured with new love as post hits 3 MILLION likes
- 17 minutes ago
Spice Girl 'rock of support' for Geri Horner amid Red Bull 'NIGHTMARE'
- 1 hour ago
Newey move to F1 rivals RULED OUT
- 2 hours ago
Jos Verstappen hints at Red Bull EXIT for champion son
- 3 hours ago
How soon will Newey win the F1 title at his new team?
- Today 18:57
Newey submits Red Bull 'resignation' ahead of exit
- Today 14:36
- 1
Related news
Hamilton 'giving no energy' to Mercedes engine troubles
Perez podium a "great shot of confidence" for Red Bull title tussle - Horner
Alpine adamant no safety risk with Ocon strategy gamble
Hamilton cautious of drivers 'not fighting for the same prize'
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860