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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is not ruling out Lewis Hamilton from making a title push; in fact, he thinks Hamilton is already in the hunt for the eighth title.
Hamilton got the help of a safety car to get ahead late in the race, but he had the pace all race long to fight for the win.
His tire wear and race pace were the keys to staying close to the Mercedes cars, along with smart strategy decisions, which made the difference.
Nov 21, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Mercedes AMG Petronas team principal Toto Wolff arrives for practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, in the same race, championship leader Kimi Antonelli suffered a reliability problem, leaving him without points and reducing his championship lead to 41 points, with Hamilton firmly in second place.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who has seen Hamilton’s greatness up close for years, noted that Hamilton is very much capable of being champion.
“I’d rather not fight with him [Hamilton] for a title because I know what he’s capable of. If he smells blood, he goes,” Wolff said after the race.
“I’ve seen it many years where suddenly the Lewis Hamilton train started to go and then it’s very difficult to stop it.”
Canadian Grand Prix, Sunday, Getty Images MONTREAL, QUEBEC – MAY 24: Race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Second placed Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari congratulate each other on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on May 24, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
Additionally, Wolff has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with a possible Hamilton title push, given the high threat level.
“Yes, absolutely. We’re so early in the season, the gap is 41 points. A DNF robs you of 25 points and it’s wide open,” Wolff added.
“That’s why we can’t afford to not finish, and we need to just keep putting performance on the car and on the power unit, not make mistakes, be clever with the strategy and stay absolutely on it.”
Ferrari is far from a clear threat to Antonelli, but at the rate they are developing the car and with potential engine development aid, it may not be long before they seriously enter the title picture.
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Hamilton got the help of a safety car to get ahead late in the race, but he had the pace all race long to fight for the win.
His tire wear and race pace were the keys to staying close to the Mercedes cars, along with smart strategy decisions, which made the difference.
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Nov 21, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Mercedes AMG Petronas team principal Toto Wolff arrives for practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, in the same race, championship leader Kimi Antonelli suffered a reliability problem, leaving him without points and reducing his championship lead to 41 points, with Hamilton firmly in second place.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who has seen Hamilton’s greatness up close for years, noted that Hamilton is very much capable of being champion.
“I’d rather not fight with him [Hamilton] for a title because I know what he’s capable of. If he smells blood, he goes,” Wolff said after the race.
“I’ve seen it many years where suddenly the Lewis Hamilton train started to go and then it’s very difficult to stop it.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Canadian Grand Prix, Sunday, Getty Images MONTREAL, QUEBEC – MAY 24: Race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Second placed Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari congratulate each other on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on May 24, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
Additionally, Wolff has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with a possible Hamilton title push, given the high threat level.
“Yes, absolutely. We’re so early in the season, the gap is 41 points. A DNF robs you of 25 points and it’s wide open,” Wolff added.
“That’s why we can’t afford to not finish, and we need to just keep putting performance on the car and on the power unit, not make mistakes, be clever with the strategy and stay absolutely on it.”
Ferrari is far from a clear threat to Antonelli, but at the rate they are developing the car and with potential engine development aid, it may not be long before they seriously enter the title picture.
Continue reading...
