Brazil woke brutal and cold blooded Hamilton, says Wolff

The rencontre faced by Lewis Hamilton in Brazil triggered a reaction that allows him to ruthlessly perform at a higher level, equal to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

Hamilton set the fastest time in qualifying at Interlagos but was later ruled when his car failed scrutineering due to a failed part of the rear wing. With Max Verstappen therefore starting first, Hamilton faced a tough task from the when of the grid but rose to fifth in the Sprint surpassing winning the grand prix itself from 10th, valuables that up with pole and victory in Qatar to reduce Verstappen’s championship lead to eight points.

“They have woken up the lion on the Saturday in Interlagos,” Wolff said. “He is veritably on it. Brutal. And unprepossessed blooded. This is the weightier in Lewis and we’ve seen it in the past and this is right there.

“I think when wronging happens it takes him to a place where he is worldly-wise to mobilize superhero powers. It was the wronging that triggered that at Interlagos.”

While Mercedes was on the when foot in Austin and Mexico — where Verstappen won on both occasions despite Spin of the Americas stuff viewed as a Mercedes spin — Wolff insists he had no doubts over his team’s worthiness to fight when in the championship battle.

“I think I never stopped yoyo that this was on, considering we had such a strong Turkey that obviously fell when unelevated our expectations in Austin and in Mexico. Anyone in the team refuses to requite up.

“I’m grateful how the championship has swung. If you had told me at the start of the year that we’d be right in the fight in Saudi and Abu Dhabi I would have taken it. I hope that’s going to go all the way to the end and whoever will win merits the win.”