Budapest: Lewis Hamilton’s show of sportsmanship on the Hungaroring circuit here Sunday may cost Mercedes the drivers’ as well as the constructer’s championships according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
On a circuit, where overtaking is notoriously difficult, Merc had ordered Valtteri Bottas to make way for Hamilton starting fourth on the grid to challenge Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen. However, the Brit had stated that if he realised that it would be impossible for him to overtake either of the Ferrari drivers, he would allow teammate Bottas to finish on the podium ahead of him. True to his word on the final lap with his chances of winning the event gone, Hamilton allowed Bottas to pass him.
Such gestures are rarely seen on the F1 circuit. If Hamilton had finished third the difference between Mercedes and Ferrari would have been 11. However, now it stands on 14 points as the drivers go into their summer break.
“You know if it all boils down to losing the championship to Ferrari by three points, then questions will definitely be raised about Hamilton’s gesture,” said Wolff late after the prize distribution ceremony. “Not saying he shouldn’t have done it, but if the difference between us and Ferrari is three points, then all will ask ‘why the hell he (Hamilton) did it’. I would be the first one to shoot myself in the knee,” added Wolff.
After moving seven seconds clear of Bottas, and with an eye on the championship, Hamilton might have been forgiven for holding position. But Hamilton who has vowed to win the championship the right way this year, allowed Bottas back into the podium.
“The mind is cut-throat and it’s a do-or-die for every point. But I felt that it was the right thing (allow Bottas to pass) to do,” said Hamilton. “I don’t know whether the decision will return to bite me on the backside in the coming months, but I have no regrets. I have done the right thing,” he added.