Toto Wolff: «It’s not from a team member. I have given instructions to go deeper with the police to investigate”
(FILES) Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton arrives to the paddock ahead of the Formula One Mexico Grand Prix at the Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack in Mexico City on October 26, 2023. (Photo by CLAUDIO CRUZ / AFP)
In Mercedes there is talk of a conspiracy: an email has apparently arrived denouncing the sabotage against Lewis Hamilton. Ironic that the issue emerges precisely in the same days in which Briatore returns to Formula 1.
The Times tell what happened:
Mercedes have reported to police an email sent to the media last week, claiming to be from a team member and claiming Lewis Hamilton had been sabotaged.
Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, will leave the team next season to join Ferrari, leading to speculation that his teammate George Russell, who will remain at Mercedes, is the favourite. Hamilton has been overtaken by Russell in eight of the nine races held so far.
The email, sent in the days after the Canadian Grand Prix on June 9, stated that the sender was “unhappy with the systematic sabotage of Lewis, his car, his tire strategy, his race strategy and his mental health.” Additionally, he used disparaging language towards Russell, 26.
Formula 1, Wolff’s words on the anonymous email
Mercedes believe the email may have come from a superfan who managed to discover the same mailing list used to distribute alleged WhatsApp messages from Red Bull team principal Christian Horner earlier in the season, and strongly denies it is a a member of the team as the email claims. They tried to investigate the sender’s IP address, but could not find the source and contacted the police.
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, said that anyone who believed the contents of the email should «go to a shrink».
«It’s not from a team member, when we get these types of emails, and we get tons of them- he said-it’s upsetting, especially when someone talks about death and these things».
«On this one in particular I gave instructions to go deeper with the police to investigate, look up the IP address, look up the telephone number, because online abuse in this way must stop. People cannot hide behind their phones or computers and abuse teams or drivers in this way».
Hamilton, 39, was asked on Thursday to speak out about the abuse he received from his compatriot Russell. «I think we need support, not negativity. I actually wasn’t aware of what happened to George he just did his best every single weekend and gave his best for the team so he can’t be blamed».
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