Hamilton victory worries Mercedes boss

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has expressed concern over the form of Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton after the British racer won the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

The victory allowed Hamilton to reduce the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli to 41 points after the Italian failed to finish the race due to a technical issue in the closing stages, CE Report quotes BTA.

Although Antonelli’s lead cannot be overturned at the next race, the Austrian Grand Prix later this month, Wolff believes Hamilton’s current form could create serious problems for Mercedes in the title fight. Wolff and Hamilton won six Formula 1 world championships together between 2014 and 2020.

"I would rather not have to fight Lewis for the title. I know exactly what he is capable of. Once he smells blood, he becomes a real beast," Wolff said after the race in Spain.

"For years, I have seen how Lewis can transform after a result like this. Once he finds his rhythm, he becomes extremely difficult to stop. Those 41 points mean nothing. One retirement, like Kimi’s, and the championship battle is back on the table," he added.

"At the same time, I am happy for Lewis. This victory means a lot to him, and I know what he has been through, especially over the last year. I have always said that if a Mercedes driver is not winning, I would be happy to see Lewis on top."

Wolff also suggested that Hamilton’s strong performances may be linked to positive changes in his personal life, following reports of a relationship with American reality television star Kim Kardashian.

"I think his girlfriend is helping him. A stable personal life always helps. They seem to get along very well. All these factors — emotional, personal, and professional — are working in the right direction for him. You can see it in the way he is driving this season. It also seems that he and his race engineer understand each other much better now. His face on the podium was glowing with happiness," Wolff concluded.