Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton to use racial abuse to fire him to British GP win
Lewis Hamilton's racial abuse will inspire him to victory at the British Grand Prix, according to Toto Wolff.
Footage emerged this week of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet referring to Hamilton using a term in Brazil that translates in English to the N-word in the aftermath of the 2021 Silverstone crash with Max Verstappen, who is dating the Brazilian's daughter Kelly.
It has overshadowed Hamilton's preparations for his home GP, but his Mercedes boss Wolff believes it will only help push him on this weekend. Speaking to The Sun, he said: "The more adversity Lewis faced in the past, the better his performances. It’s something that fuels him.
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"And if we give him a car which is just a few tenths off the leaders, he will win the race. Him and Silverstone will compensate for a car which is slightly off the pace. But he knows he cannot have miracles."
Hamilton has claimed victory in seven of the last eight British GPs, with a record eight wins overall. But Mercedes' dominance has been shattered this season following the regulation changes.
Hamilton has also been outscored by new team-mate and fellow countryman George Russell, who has had luck on his side on more than one occasion but has also impressed with his performances.
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Wolff added: "Lewis deserves a strong result because he has been particularly unlucky this season. He’s the most complete driver ever but everyone has their favourite circuits.
"If you have 150,000 people cheering for you on the grandstand it gives you the home advantage."
Hamilton broke his silence on Piquet's racist remarks on Thursday (June 30), questioning why "older people" are still given a platform. Piquet, who issued an apology, has been banned from attending Silverstone this weekend.
Piquet said: "I would never use the word I have been accused of in some translations. I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of the colour of his skin.
"I apologise wholeheartedly to anyone that was affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver, but the translation in some media that is now circulating on social media is not correct."
He concluded: "Discrimination has no place in society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts in that respect."
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