Formula One team principal Toto Wolff has issued an apology to Lewis Hamilton after his qualifying exit in Abu Dhabi, calling it an “idiotic mistake” that “totally let him down”. The seven-time world champion was knocked out of Q1 after running over a bollard on the track.
Wolff’s error occurred when Kevin Magnussen’s car put a bollard on the circuit, which Hamilton then inadvertently hit with his car. Despite being in contention for a spot in Q2, Hamilton struggled to gain momentum due to cold tyres and traffic congestion.
The team principal was visibly upset about the incident, stating that Mercedes “totally let him down”. He acknowledged that it was an avoidable mistake and expressed regret over not catching the bollard earlier. Wolff also emphasized that the error does not diminish the impressive legacy of the Hamilton-Mercedes partnership, which boasts six titles and 80 wins between them.
With Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marking the final race for Hamilton with Mercedes before his move to Ferrari in 2025, Wolff’s apology serves as a poignant reminder of the team’s loss. Despite this setback, Wolff remains confident that their partnership will be remembered as one of the greatest in F1 history.
Source: https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1061367/1/toto-wolff-apologises-lewis-hamilton-idiotic-mistake-we-totally-let-him-down