09 March 2023 , 16:40
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Toto Wolff insists there is no rift between Lewis Hamilton and senior Mercedes staff despite the seven-time world champion's public criticism in the wake of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Mercedes were desperate to provide their drivers with a more competitive car this year after a challenging 2022 season for the team. But Hamilton and George Russell again have a machine which looks unlikely to be challenging for the title and an 'emergency meeting' was reportedly held at the team's factory.
After managing only fifth place in Bahrain, Hamilton spoke to the BBC and was critical of the team. He said: "Last year, I told them the issues that are with the car. I've driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn't need.
"And I think it's really about accountability, it's about owning up and saying 'yeah, you know what, we didn't listen to you, it's not where it needs to be and we've got to work'."
In the wake of those words, it was reported by Italian publication Formu1a.uno that a meeting took place "late at night" at the team's factory. Technical director Mike Elliott was supposedly given an "ultimatum" placing extra pressure upon him to get the W14 into a place where it is more competitive on track.
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This latest reported development will do nothing to quell concerns that there may be a rift among the big players at the Silver Arrows. But team principal Wolff's initial response to the result in Bahrain was to reassure fans that everyone is pulling in the same direction.
Toto Wolff says there is no rift at Mercedes (Getty Images)He said: "The Lewis situation is you heard him on the radio. He is an integral part of the team, picking the team up and we are all sticking together and I don't think that is going to change just because we had a start that was really bad.
"We have won eight constructors' championships and six drivers' championships with him and that relationship holds. As much as being transparent as to how we need to turn the car around, it is not the point to talk about the driver situation in 2024.
"It is far too early, we need to all push in then same direction, the drivers, the engineers, all the management rather than throwing in the towel. We have never done that and we will not do it. We just need to really dig deep and deeper than we have every done and provide both drivers with a car they are able to fight with."