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Could it be to get Lewis to stay? Maybe, but I doubt it - if Lewis was a Vettel style one-trick pony when it comes to the type of car he could drive then why try to keep him? Chuck everything at Russell and allow Lewis to run a football team.
On paper it's one of (if not the) strongest pairing on the grid. Given Hamilton's salary likely isn't factored into the cost-cap, it's not like they're sacrificing the team budget to keep him. Let's be honest, no one really cares who wins the WCC so having a 7x WDC on your team is great for PR too.
I don't think he's a one-trick pony btw (nor do I think that for Vettel), and it's not like there's a better option waiting in the wings. Not even sure who Merc would have earmarked for his replacement. From what I can see all the promising upcoming talent is either Red Bull, Ferrari or Alpine.
I do think those sorts of statements are there to take the heat off the driver and I'd say it's what any decent manager would be doing (though you likely wouldn't see that sort of thing at Ferrari!). Can't really think of any other possibility for it.
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mmccarthy
I don't think Hamilton would leave - legacy is important.
I think that he probably would have left last year if Masi hadn't won the championship for Max, but now as Howard says he has to leave a winner.
So put the above two things together and I'm sure Wolff was doing some driver mental state/health management, but I also think it's interesting that he's stated in public that the car is the problem.
Of course, that level of publicity ups the level of encouragement for the drivers, but it's airing dirty laundry in public about the engine and aero package in a way that has to be very considered.
Could it be to get Lewis to stay? Maybe, but I doubt it - if Lewis was a Vettel style one-trick pony when it comes to the type of car he could drive then why try to keep him? Chuck everything at Russell and allow Lewis to run a football team.