IMOLA, ITALY (AFP) – Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff made an extraordinary public apology to a crestfallen Lewis Hamilton (AFP pic below), describing his car as “undriveable” and unworthy for a world champion.
Wolff spoke on team radio and then to reporters after a desultory day for Hamilton who finished the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in a lowly 13th while Mercedes team-mate George Russell was fourth.
Adding insult to injury, Hamilton was lapped by his recent nemesis world champion Max Verstappen, who won the race ahead of Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to trim Charles Leclerc’s lead in the title race to 27 points with Lando Norris finishing third for McLaren.
“We are not good enough for a world champion – and we just need to fix the car,” said Wolff.
On team radio, he apologised to Hamilton as soon as the race ended. “I am sorry for what you had to drive today. I know it was undriveable. This was a terrible race.”
Hamilton responded: “No worries, Toto. Just keep working hard.”
Hamilton’s most humbling moment in a desultory race came when he was lapped by Verstappen who enjoyed an easy pass for the race-leading Red Bull.
Sunday’s result was one of Hamilton’s worst since he joined Mercedes. His only previous pointless finish came at last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix where he was 15th.
Hamilton was at a loss.
“It’s been difficult, but I don’t really know what to say,” he said.
“It’s definitely not easy and we all feel it as a team. At least George got some points so my apologies to everyone (that) I wasn’t able to do the same.
“I just wasn’t fast enough to overtake and I don’t really know why. I just wasn’t moving forwards. I was just a bit of a sitting duck.”
