Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff says Red Bull comments in the hearing were “below the belt”

During Thursday’s videoconference hearing with F1 stewards confirming the 10-second penalty awarded to Lewis Hamilton after the contact between his car and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull machine at Silverstone two weeks ago, the formula- 1 rivals Red Bull and Mercedes never lost love.

This petition for review was heard by the stewards on Thursday but duly denied as the stewards believed that none of the four pieces of evidence presented by Red Bull warranted a reopening of the investigation.

A section of the stewards’ report raised eyebrows as they noted in a letter from Red Bull “allegations certain of concern”.

Mercedes Toto Wolff

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Red Bull team boss Christian Horner stated in Hungary on Friday that it was probably about “the process of approaching the stewards during the event”, an element that F1 race director Michael Masi has since clarified. Masi has informed the superiors that they are not allowed to meet with the stewards who are currently being discussed.

Nevertheless, after Thursday’s decision, Mercedes released its own statement criticizing “a concerted attempt by the senior management of Red Bull Racing to damage the good name and athletic integrity of Lewis Hamilton.”

Horner was unimpressed by Mercedes’ release.

“The statement from Mercedes is a bit antagonistic, we say, but I don’t really read it much,” he said. “There was never anything personal about a single driver. It’s about the events that happened and a competition between two guys, it’s not individual for every driver. If that had been a driver, the reaction would have been the same. I was a little surprised by the comments from Mercedes. “

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff explained why the team took the unusual step of making such a public statement.

Red Bull team principal Toto Wolff

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“I think we wanted to bring some respect back into the discussion,” he said. “We know that emotions can go high, it’s always a question of perspective and perception, but we felt that this limit had been exceeded. We found comments that were made during and after the race in written statements and in the meeting itself below the belt. “

After a week of policy-focused action, both of them stressed that they were careful to get attention back to the circuit.

Verstappen is eight points ahead of Hamilton in the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend, while Red Bull is four points ahead of Mercedes.

Verstappen has never won at the Hungaroring, but finished second behind Hamilton in both 2019 and 2020; Hamilton is chasing victory at the venue for the ninth time, which would be a record on one track. His first Mercedes victory came in 2013 on the Hungaroring.

It is the last event before a four-week summer break, after which the events will arrive tightly and quickly, with 12 grands prix that will take place between late August and mid-December.

“The chapter is now closed for us, the stewards have made their decision and we are now concentrating very much on this weekend and the rest of the championship,” emphasized Horner.

“I think we’re more involved [fight] than before, ”Wolff outlines. “This [season] takes so long, so it’s too early to guess. “

However, neither Verstappen nor Hamilton led the training session on Friday, instead Mercedes led Valtteri Bottas, who has not won a Grand Prix since September 2020, and the current Williams racing driver George Russell on the seat for 2022.

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