At the end of a season, the drama and tension of the year begins to dissolve and evaporate. This year has been a little different however. After a somewhat timid season, the aftermath has seen the drama and tension begin to rise between the two star drivers of Mercedes AMG Petronas, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. This is all down to Mercedes, and in particular team principal, Toto Wolff. The Austrian has mentioned in multiple interviews that if his two drivers were unable to work together and end up harming the team, then they would look at changing their driver line-up. Is Toto’s threat real, or a cunning plan for a greater purpose? Would Mercedes drop Hamilton and Rosberg?
Would Mercedes Drop Hamilton and Rosberg?
Where has this come from? A couple of months ago this warning would’ve have been unimaginable. The season had gone in favour of Mercedes, with very little drama and flashpoints in their team. Then came Austin. This was the first opporunity where Hamilton could win the championship. At the start, he ran Rosberg wide into turn one, which left the German unhappy as he felt it was a move too far. Hamilton went onto to win the race and the title. Before the podium ceremony, an altercation between the pair, where Hamilton and Rosberg took part in a game of pass the hat, gave the first public indication of unrest within the team. Rosberg was clearly not happy, and failed to hide his disdain on the podium. Since then, the German has gone on to dominate and win the last three races. This has left Hamilton unhappy, and seeing him complain about the car balance and the inter-team strategy favouring the German. There have been some niggling comments in the press between the two lately as well, which adds to the speculation that the pair don’t get on. There are even suggestions that they haven’t spoken in a long time. This may be the reason why Wolff has had to publicly warn them on keeping their competitiveness in the spirit of the team, and not to overspill which would harm their championship chances for the following season.
How real is the threat from Wolff? It may seem to some to be bizarre as they have just come off the back of another dominant season, where they picked up a record 703 points, and won the constructors’ championship with four races to spare. That was one more than last season. There are two reasons though that Toto’s threat should be taken seriously. First of all is, is the short term reason. Like in any sport, F1 is a performance based business. Even though they have locked out the front two steps on the podium for the last four races, there is a real challenge potentially from Ferrari. The Prancing Horse have been revitalised this year, after a torrid 2014, and they have the resources to be able to close the gap on Mercedes. If that was to happen, then they would need both drivers on the same page and not fighting against each other. At the moment, judging by their attitudes towards each other, it would seem unlikely that either driver would aid the other one in the interests of the team. Media reports suggest that Toto’s threats were aimed more at Hamilton. After his title win in Austin, the Brit has been publicly letting his hair down, even with the season still ongoing. The last three races has seen him comprehensibly beaten by his team-mate, and there is the feeling that he has relaxed his performances. Toto said that as long as Hamilton’s lifestyle doesn’t affect his driving, then there will be no issue. At the moment, going on what has happened in the last there races, there must be at least some form of internal discussion on his performance dip.
Secondly, is the long term reason. Both drivers are in their thirties. Even though they will be at their peak, like all top teams, Mercedes will be looking at the future. With Rosberg’s contract up at the end of next season, then there is a slot open for 2017. The German is the man on form but this only came in after the title challenge had mathematically gone. He will need to show from the first race his ability, otherwise there will be discussions regarding his drive for the following year. Even if both drivers deliever the results on track, the team will still be scouting for future line-ups. With the emergence of the next generation of drivers coming through and with Mercedes having both Esteban Ocon and Pascal Wehrlein in their roster, then Mercedes will be looking to sign them up as soon as possible before the other top teams do. Suggesting openly that seats can be easily become available will be more of an attraction in the negotiating process, than trying to entice an established driver in F1 to sign for a team whose driver line-up is locked out for the forseeable future.
Finally, is the threat really genuine? After a dull season, where many have criticised Mercedes from ruining the spectacle, have they now tried to add some spice to affairs by suggesting that there is an inter-team rift, and not all is as tranquil as may seem? It is true that there is a rivalry between Hamilton and Rosberg, but that has and will always be the case at a team that has the dominant package. They are both fighting for race wins and titles so it is healthy to have this edge to them. Furthermost, they have grown up together since they were children, and know what makes the other tick. What to many may see like a bitter rivalry can just be simply two guys who have known each other well for so long, and a comfortable on rubbing up the other one the wrong way. Are Toto’s threats real then? It tough to tell, but whatever is really going on, it has kept the spotlight on the sport as we enter the twilight days of the year. The answer won’t begin to be revealed until Melbourne next March, and this has already made the season opener an more intriguing prospect than would usually be expected.
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