Wolff clarifies Bottas 'wingman' comments following Hungarian GP
Toto Wolff has clarified his reference to Valtteri Bottas being Lewis Hamilton's "wingman" in Formula 1's Hungarian Grand Prix, insisting Mercedes does not favour one driver over the other
Mercedes team boss Wolff called Bottas a "sensational wingman" for fending off the Ferraris as Hamilton escaped to victory at the Hungaroring, leading Bottas to tell TV crews that being described that way "hurts".
Bottas suggested he would seek talks with Mercedes over Wolff's comments, saying it remains too early in the season for him to be cast in a support role to championship leader Hamilton.
When asked by Autosport how he would deal with the situation in the aftermath, Wolff moved to clarify his remarks.
"That's exactly why things that are not being discussed directly face-to-face are being completely spun out of control in the wrong way," Wolff said.
"In today's race, starting P2, after lap one, Valtteri's race was the perfect wingman race - and I don't mean it in championship terms, because we have no number one, we have no number two, but it was just how he was racing.
"It was, from my standpoint, [his] best race so far with Mercedes in the last [two] years."
Wolff said Mercedes was "surprised" Bottas managed to keep the Ferraris at bay for so long.
"I don't know how much length the tyre was on but I guess it was around 50 - 54 [laps] - the tyre was completely shot," Wolff added.
"We were surprised he managed to hold Sebastian and Kimi behind for 25 or so laps and we knew the last five laps would be really critical.
"The bittersweet feeling I have is that he would have deserved to finish P2 - where he has started and where he was after lap one.
"But, are you saying maybe the word wingman doesn't do him justice? He just drove a sensational race and helped Lewis, in a way, to build the lead."
"I have not called a meeting with the bosses for Toto saying I was the perfect wingman in this race," read the statement.
"There is no need to. I was disappointed with my end-result in the race and saw everything in a negative way for a moment.
"I know what he meant. And he would have said the same about Lewis if he'd be in same situation and had a similar race.
"We are on equal terms and I trust the team 100% on that. All good. We'll keep pushing! It'll come."
Share Or Save This Story
Autosport 75: How Verstappen scored his first F1 win
The supercharged Revolution that has piqued an Olympic legend's motorsport taste
How Radical revamped its record-breaking flagship model
The battle Susie Wolff refuses to give up on
Wolff: Mercedes won't be "flirting" with other F1 drivers
Why Mercedes won’t leap into choosing a Wolff successor
Super Formula Suzuka: Fenestraz wins chaotic opening race
Who qualifies for ADUO? Red Bull shares its F1 power unit pecking order
The details in Mercedes' Montreal F1 updates
Supercars Symmons Plains: Toyota pair Mostert and Heimgartner share wins
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments