Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff lauded for snubbing FIA gala after Abu Dhabi controversy

Mercedes boss hopes ‘robbed’ Lewis Hamilton will continue racing

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Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff have been praised for turning their noses up at the FIA prize-giving gala in Paris last night after the Mercedes double act decided not to travel to France to receive the team’s Constructors’ Championship following the events in Abu Dhabi last Sunday.

Despite confirmation the Silver Arrows were retracting their appeal against Michael Masi’s title-deciding actions yesterday, the pair decided it would not feel right to rub shoulders with the FIA or rivals Red Bull so soon after they were robbed of the world championship at Yas Marina.

Instead, chief technical officer James Allison descended on the gala to pick up Mercedes’ prize as Hamilton and Wolff continue to lick their wounds in the aftermath of arguably the most dramatic season in F1 history.

Speaking to press on Thursday, Wolff raised concerns for Hamilton’s future given how hard this had hit the seven-time world champion, who was sapped off all energy after having the title snatched away from him in the final minutes of a chaotic, relentless season.

The 36-year-old is now set to welcome some much-needed rest and for that reason, Sky Sports’ David Croft believes Hamilton and Wolff did the right thing in swerving the awards ceremony.

“I’m not surprised he [Hamilton] feels the way that he does, I’m not surprised Toto Wolff feels the way that he does, nor the rest of the Mercedes team,” he told Sky Sports.

“They feel that they have been robbed of a Drivers’ World Championship, in doing so it is rather stopping them celebrating what is an amazing, historic, eighth-consecutive Constructors’ title.

“I say good on Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton for not going to the FIA gala tonight.

“Why go along and sit there when they still feel such raw, strong emotions from Sunday in Abu Dhabi? Why go along to attend the prize-giving gala? I’m sure they could actually do with a break from the sport.”

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World champion Max Verstappen was in attendance and once again, he shared little sympathy for his rival Hamilton given the success he has already had within the sport.

Verstappen said: “I can understand the first few days after a race like that you’re not happy.

“But you should also understand this is racing and these things can happen.”

Before later adding: “He should just look back at what he has achieved already.

“That should give him a lot of comfort and it should also be that drive to keep on going because he is still trying to challenge for that eighth title and for sure he can do that next year so I don’t see any reason to give up just now.”

After signing a two-year contract with Mercedes earlier in the year, Hamilton is expected to fight back and renew his rivalry with Verstappen in 2022 as he goes in search of his eighth title.

Wolff remains hopeful Hamilton will be hungry to bounce back: “It’s going to take a long time for us to digest what has happened on Sunday. I don’t think we will ever come over it, that’s not possible.

“And certainly not him [Hamilton] as a driver. I would very much hope the two of us and the rest of the team we can work through the events… But he will never overcome the pain and the distress that was caused on Sunday.”

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