During the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, tensions ran high for Lewis Hamilton as he struggled with track limits penalties and a car that’s proving to be too challenging to handle. Mercedes F1 boss, Toto Wolff, stepped in to remind his driver to keep his head on the race, highlighting the frustrations faced by the team during the race.
Challenging Track Limits
Hamilton found himself in the midst of controversy as he repeatedly exceeded track limits in the initial laps of the race. Despite expressing his disagreement with the penalties, the seven-time World Champion faced the consequences. All these eventually hindered his progress, adding to his mounting frustration.
Lewis Hamilton’s Complaints
In a bid to defend his own actions during the event, Hamilton took to the team radio to notify his race engineer, Pete Bonnington, about Sergio Perez‘s similar infractions. He questioned the stewards’ decisions and wondered why penalties were not being given promptly to other drivers.
Toto Wolff Intervenes Over the Radio
As the race reached its closing stages, Hamilton found himself in seventh place, struggling with a car that seemed unresponsive. Sensing his driver’s frustration, Toto Wolff intervened through the team radio.
In a frustrated tone, Wolff acknowledged the car’s performance issues and urged Hamilton to focus on driving instead.
Lewis, the car is bad we know, please drive it.
Toto Wolff to Lewis Hamilton’s radio at the 2023 Austrian GP
Race Results
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed victory at the 2023 Austrian GP. He was followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. Meanwhile, Hamilton ended up on the seventh, and his teammate, George Russel, tailed him at the eighth.
Mercedes is still second in the 2023 F1 Constructor Standings at 178 points. However, with the recent event, Aston Martin has managed to narrow the gap in between by six points.
Final Thoughts
The Austrian Grand Prix was a test of resilience for Lewis Hamilton, with track limit penalties and a challenging car hampering his progress. The intervention of Toto Wolff over the team radio highlighted the intensity of the situation and the need for Mercedes’ star driver to stay focused.
On the bright side amid the setbacks, Hamilton’s ability to maintain his position demonstrated his skill and determination on the racetrack.