Mercedes team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas have recalled the moments when team boss Toto Wolff was at his angriest, following something they’ve done on track.
Speaking in a video put together by the team, the two Formula 1 drivers ask one another questions, with the conversation turning to mistakes they’ve made on track and how Wolff, who is known to show his emotions on screen and is often seen banging a table with his fist, reacted.
“The angriest I ever seen Toto, it would have been one of the times Nico [Rosberg] and I crashed into each other…” said Hamilton.
Bottas quickly replied: “Barcelona,” referring to the time Hamilton and then team-mate Nico Rosberg collided on the opening lap of the 2016 Spanish GP, ending both their races after just three corners.
“Probably Barcelona’s the angriest he ever got,” replied Hamilton, to which Bottas responded: “Was he, like, fuming?”
Hamilton replied, laughing: “Yeah! Definitely saw bald patches he pulled out of his hair, had to get some turf and grow it back!”
Bottas then recalled the 2019 German GP, which Mercedes celebrated its 125th year of competing in motorsport, and their 200th F1 start, by running a one-off livery and retro uniforms.
It was however one of their worst weekends in motorsport after both Hamilton and Bottas crashed out in a crazy rain-affected race.
“He wasn’t so happy in Germany 2019,” remembered Bottas.
“I was going to get at least some points, and then I shunted. We were all wearing these special outfits and I remember… Toto said after the race that that’s the last time we’re going to play carnival at a race weekend.”
The pair shared numerous memories, with one particular recollection of Bottas’ lockdown Zoom quizzes leaving the pair in tears of laughter, thanks to a question about the average size of a Beaver’s penis, which the Finn revealed was around 30mm.