Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff made FIA race director Michael Masi angry about an incident with Lewis Hamilton at the Spanish Grand Prix. Hamilton lost his pole position to Max Verstappen on the first corner of the race.
But the seven-time world champion kept his title rival close until the first round of pit stops.
Verstappen gave in at first, with Hamilton quickly approaching him on the old soft tires.
Mercedes opted to keep Hamilton out longer, but Verstappen got enough pace with his new media to ensure he stayed ahead when his rival eventually pitted.
However, Hamilton’s chances were not improved as he tried to get past Nikita Mazepin, who was shown the blue flag.
Hamilton came to lap Mazepin with cars that had to get out of the way as quickly as possible when blue flags were blowing.
Mazepin didn’t let Hamilton pass by Wolff’s taste fast enough, however, who quickly went on the radio to take control of the race.
In what appeared to be a premiere, Sky Sports sent Wolff’s radio message to FIA race director Masi, and the Mercedes boss was clearly angry.
“Michael, blue flags!” Wolff raged.
“Michael, this guy is making us lose our position.”
At the time, Sky Sports also showed a graph showing the void Hamilton would have to Verstappen after his pit stop.
He originally wanted to complete the undercut before showing up behind Mazepin, and the graphics soon changed in Verstappen’s favor.
Mercedes then decided to keep Hamilton on the soft tires a few laps longer before eventually pulling him for the media.
The post Mercedes boss Toto Wolff rages on the radio about Nikita Mazepin because of the Lewis Hamilton incident | F1 | Sports first appeared on monter-une-startup.
