AlphaTauri condemn accusations that they ruined Hamilton's Dutch GP

AlphaTauri hit back at ‘insulting and categorically incorrect’ accusations by Mercedes that they deliberately ruined Lewis Hamilton’s race at Dutch GP, after Toto Wolff’s demand for inquest following Yuki Tsunoda’s retirement

  • Yuki Tsunoda was forced to pull into the pits late on in the Dutch Grand Prix
  • He was sent back out after tyre issues, but retired just four corners later 
  • The resulting Virtual Safety Car may have cost Lewis Hamilton the race 
  • Tsunoda’s team AlphaTauri have condemned accusations of  foul play

Formula One team AlphaTauri has condemned accusations of foul play levelled at them after Yuki Tsunoda’s controversial retirement in the Dutch Grand Prix.

Tsunoda was forced into the pits with tyre issues in the race but was sent back out. He then retired just four corners later, causing a Virtual Safety Car that largely extinguished any chance of a victory for Lewis Hamilton.

Some fans on social media suspected foul play as AlphaTauri’s sister team Red Bull won the race through Max Verstappen, with their Head of Strategy Hannah Schmitz attracting particularly strong criticism.

Toto Wolff said he ‘would look closely’ at Yuki Tsunoda’s retirement in the Dutch Grand Prix

Red Bull’s Head of Strategy Hannah Schmitz has been criticised for her role in the retirement

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said it was ‘something I would look closely at’ if his team was challenging for a championship.

AlphaTauri stood by their staff and denied any wrongdoing. A statement read: ‘It is incredibly disheartening to read some of the language and comments directed at our team and towards Red Bull Racing’s Head of Strategy, Hannah Schmitz.

‘Such hateful behaviour cannot be tolerated, and to entertain accusations of foul play is unacceptable, untrue and completely disrespectful towards both Hannah and us.

Max Verstappen went on to win his home Grand Prix and extend his Drivers Championship lead

‘We have always competed independently, fairly and with the highest levels of respect and sportsmanship.

‘Yuki had a failure that the team didn’t immediately detect which caused him to stop on track.

‘To suggest anything different is insulting and categorically incorrect.’

Lewis Hamilton’s team also condemned abusive messages aimed at Schmitz and said it was ‘important to us that we continue to spread love and empathy towards the hardworking teams in the paddock.’




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