“You are not the sun” – Wolff reveals why Lewis Hamilton is much superior to Fernando Alonso

What is the first thing that comes to mind when a viewer hears the name “Lewis Hamilton”? An F1 driver who used the power of Mercedes to win 6 world titles for himself; the talent part often comes later.

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What we don’t see, however, is the fact that the Brit made one of the biggest gamblings in 2013, which was actually the stepping stone to where he is now.

Hamilton drove for a dependable McLaren that competes in the championship and enjoyed a pretty hefty paycheck every year. And despite such positive results from the British team, Hamilton dragged himself to a setback by signing a contract with the then midfield team Mercedes AMG. The pay was also insignificant.

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And yet, trusting Mercedes’ goals and hoping for a better car in the future, he withdrew from his longtime supporter McLaren – a bold move.

Fernando Alonso’s suggestions trigger Toto Wolff

Interestingly, there has been a lot of conversation about Hamilton since his rival Fernando Alonso returned to Formula 1 in 2021. Comparisons surfaced, with many suggesting Alonso was a far better driver than Hamilton. In addition, there were many suggestions that the Spaniard could have won more titles with Mercedes.

Toto Wolff from Mercedes is not happy to hear such ideologies. The Austrian opined that, unlike Hamilton, Alonso went for money than for the car, which led to his failure in the hybrid era.

Formula 1 F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 28, 2021 Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the Pool race via REUTERS / Lars Baron

“There are still examples today, people who chose the money and not the car. Fernando Alonso is without a doubt one of the best Formula 1 drivers who have ever driven. Always, ”he said during an interview with DailyMail.

“It’s disappointing for the sport that it doesn’t have more than two titles. But it’s about knowing that you are part of the solar system, not the sun. Some drivers are badly advised. You get into the media spotlight and start to believe that you are the sun. And you are not. “

Wolff criticizes “people” who downplay the success of Lewis Hamilton

Wolff asked people who said they could have won world titles in Hamilton’s car. The Austrian said it was often easy to downplay success, but in reality it was Hamilton who took one of the boldest moves while others decided against it.

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“The people who say they can win world championships in Lewis’ car – well, why aren’t you in that car? Why did he move from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013? It was a brave move, ”he said.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY: Race winner Lewis Hamilton from Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates winning a 7th F1 Drivers’ Championship on the podium during the F1 Turkish Grand Prix at Intercity Istanbul Park in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Bryn Lennon / Getty Images)

All in all, quite sensible words from the Mercedes boss, who has been in the business since 2013. Of course, it was a mixture of Hamilton’s talent and Mercedes superiority that helped the duo to their 13 World Championship titles.

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But do you think another rider could be so successful in the footsteps of the 7-time world champion?

View history: When F1 drivers with Hamilton, Vettel & Ricciardo had a lot of fun on top equipment