Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has warned that Lewis Hamilton will join the hunt for the Formula 1 World Championship if it does not take every opportunity over the course of the season.
Hamilton became the first non-Mercedes driver to win a Grand Prix this year with a superb victory at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, both his and the team’s first wins in nearly two years.
George Russell was second, heralding a return to the podium for the Briton, but Andrea Kimi Antonelli retired just a few laps from home, having just taken Russell for the position.
It reduces Antonelli’s title lead down to points, with Hamilton still between him and Russell.
After the race, Wolff firstly issued praise to his former driver and friend, celebrating his return to the top step of the podium.
“Congratulations to Lewis, he’s worked so hard and has gone through so many difficult moments, particularly last year,” Wolff told media, including Motorsport Week.
“Whole-heartedly, I am happy for him that he has won, and I’ve always said that if it was not for our two to win, then it should be Lewis, and he merited it.
“Of course, you can say the VSC came at the right time, but that’s what it is. I’m happy for Fred, who has had a tough time. He’s my friend, even if we annoy each other sometimes, but the pressure of running Ferrari is enormous, and that’s why I am happy.
“I am relieved for him, and he is close to my heart.”
Is Lewis Hamilton a genuine F1 title contender?
Hamilton’s win, whilst laced with the good fortune of a Virtual Safety Car that he benefitted from, there was no mistaking that it was the Hamilton of old.
Making the most of Ferrari’s intelligent three-stop strategy, the seven-time World Champion was ruthless in his pursuit of both Mercedes amid their battle for the lead, and duly leapfrogged his former teammate and successor to take an emotional first win as a Ferrari driver.
Asked if he is now indeed a genuine World Championship contender, Wolff was categoric, and issued the Silver Arrows a warning that it will need to be scrupulous in its performance.
“Yes, absolutely,” the Austrian said.
“We are so early in the season, the gap is 41 points, and you see a DNF rob you of 25 points, and it is wide open.
“That’s why we can’t afford not to finish, and we just need to keep putting performance on the car and then the power unit and not make mistakes, be clever with the strategy and stay absolutely on it.”
Hamilton will be licking his lips at the thought of closing the gap further two weeks from now at the Red Bull Ring.
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