26 February 2024 , 13:42
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Lewis Hamilton was told he was “wrong” for expressing concerns about Mercedes ’ car in 2022.
The 39-year-old has driven for Mercedes since 2013 and has enjoyed huge success with the side. He has lifted six Drivers’ Championships with the German manufacturers.
However, the 2022 season was a disaster for Mercedes as Hamilton finished sixth, while the team claimed third place behind Red Bull and Ferrari. Hamilton has since revealed that he shared concerns about the design process for the car, only for his worries to be brushed under the carpet.
Speaking in the latest series of the Netflix show Drive To Survive, he said: "Last year I remember complaining to the team and being like 'look we have to make these changes, otherwise this is the trajectory we're going to go on, this is where we're going to end up and it's... please, please do something about it."
“And I remember that they said 'We know what we're doing. You're wrong.' And that was definitely an interesting moment. I was like 'Okay, I'll step back, don't want to step on anybody's toes' and then yeah, when we got into the season then we spoke again and [they were] like 'Oh, maybe you were right'."
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Following his concerns ahead of the 2022 season, Mercedes and Hamilton have enjoyed slightly better fortunes. He claimed third place in the standings last term behind Red Bull pair Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
Mercedes finished as runners-up behind their rivals in the Constructors standings. Toto Wolff is now on the hunt for a replacement for Hamilton ahead of his surprise move to Ferrari at the end of the season.
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Speaking about how he revealed his upcoming move, Wolff said: “When he told me first, my next thought was pragmatic, what does it mean? When are we communicating this? What are the pressure points? How are we managing this season going forward, and what is it we are going to do in terms of driver line-up,” he said.
“That was the mind, the Mercedes, the team’s mind, kicked in. Now, having slept a few nights on it, it means that our professional journey comes to an end, working together, but it doesn’t mean that our personal relationship ends.
“I’ve found a friend, we’ve built a relationship over the last 10 years, and he faced a very, very difficult situation, taking a decision of where to drive, maybe for the first time since 10 years without being able to brainstorm with me.
“And therefore, I will always respect the difficulty of the situation that he faced. And in the future, we will discuss whether this could have been done in a different way or not. But I hold no grudge.”
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