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Lewis Hamilton reportedly facing the sack or suspension over his Abu Dhabi GP rebellion

1K views 15 replies 9 participants last post by  Vjdslk 
#1 ·
LEWIS Hamilton is facing a suspension or even the sack by Mercedes over his Duel in the Desert rebellion, according to Britain’s national newspapers.
Hamilton ignored a series of radio calls urging him to speed up during the season finale when he tried to back teammate Nico Rosberg into rival cars in a desperate — but ultimately unsuccessful — bid to secure the world championship.
The “instruction” of Paddy Lowe to Hamilton that he risked losing the race unless he increased his pace marked the highest escalation the Mercedes pitwall could make but was ignored by the three-time world champion. Team boss Toto Wolff later likened Hamilton’s insubordination to “anarchy” and confirmed he would consider disciplining his driver.

“Lewis Hamilton is facing the sack by Mercedes after being accused of causing anarchy in Abu Dhabi,” claims The Daily Mirror. “Hamilton’s contract runs out in 2018 but that would not stop the German car giant ending it early or suspending him from races next season as a punishment.”
A concurring Daily Mail states: “Lewis Hamilton risks having his £30million Mercedes contract ripped up after he repeatedly defied his team in a controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.”
Meanwhile, both The Guardian and Telegraph believe Mercedes may suspend Hamilton over his refusal to listen to team orders.
“Mercedes are considering disciplinary action — which could mean a fine or even suspension — against Lewis Hamilton after the three-time world champion twice flouted instructions as his teammate, Nico Rosberg, won his maiden Formula One world championship on Sunday,” says The Guardian.
The Telegraph adds: “Lewis Hamilton could be suspended by Mercedes after brazenly and repeatedly defying team orders in a futile attempt to deny Nico Rosberg a first world title…Not only did the ruse backfire, it cast him into potentially serious difficulties with his employers, who suggested he had created a situation of ‘anarchy’.”

The prospect of Mercedes taking such draconian action as either sacking Hamilton or suspending him remains remote.
Although Rosberg has been crowned champion, Hamilton is still the team’s number one asset heading into a ‘rules refresh’ season in 2017 when Mercedes are expected to face stiff opposition from Red Bull and possibly even McLaren.
While Mercedes, who wrapped up the Constructors’ Championship three races ago, have insisted their fears about losing the race to either Ferrari or Red Bull were valid, Hamilton is adamant he had the race under control while even Rosberg has admitted he could understand his rival’s tactics.
Monday morning’s reports do, however, pose one fascinating question: just where would Hamilton go if he was sidelined by the Silver Arrows?
The back page speculation also follows hot on the heels of reports which surfaced on race day in Abu Dhabi that Hamilton ‘threatened to sit out’ the remainder of the 2016 season after his crash with Rosberg in May’s Spanish GP. Hamilton refused to deny the reports on Sunday night, telling Sky Sports: “That is all private stuff that is in the past.”

According to Wolff, Mercedes had anticipated the “highly probable” scenario of Hamilton ‘playing dirty’ and the team warned the 31-year-old prior to the race they would use the undercut against him if he tried to back up Rosberg.
But Hamilton only employed the tactic after the pit-stops were complete, leaving Mercedes powerless to intervene except through their unheeded radio requests.
When pressed by reporters as to what action he could take against Hamilton, Wolff conceded “anything is possible”. But Wolff also admitted he was “in two minds” about Hamilton’s methods, describing himself as split between “me the racer” and the responsibilities of being boss of a team employing 3500 people.
“The guy who is responsible for that company and the structure we have put in place, and the team that we have put in place and its values, it’s pretty clear - it can’t make a difference whether it’s the first or the last race,” said Wolff. “I just need to form an opinion, which I haven’t yet.”
However, the Austrian’s later insistence he would keep any disciplinary action against Hamilton “internal” suggests that the driver is more likely to face a fine rather than a suspension or sacking if he is punished.
 
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#2 ·
Odd thing is he was in the lead.

If Rosberg wanted the lead he just had to overtake.

Unlike Prost, Schumacher et al, who won by crashing in the last race,
had Hamilton crashed he could not win the title.

A fine? Maybe. Sidelined? Not a chance in hell.
You have two world champions driving for you in 2017.
Name a team that would NOT want that scenario.

(Fur Harry might have a vacancy...)
 
#3 ·
Although I sometimes feel that Hamilton is pretty arrogant, you are absolutely correct, if Nico didn’t like the situation he had racing options. In addition, Mercedes has continued to say they were going to let their two driver race. That is what Hamilton was doing; racing to win the race and racing to win the driver's championship.

Back in May this was the issue:
Wolff also said he will continue the team's policy of allowing the drivers to continue racing, something Rosberg admits he is not happy about.
LINK
 
#6 ·
Wild Horses

The term "Tame Racing Driver" is a misnomer. They only appear to be civilized. Inside beats the heart of a warrior, and if not, he is likely not going to be a winner. Toto should be glad that he has two of the best available. I did frankly expect Nico to take them both out in turn one at the start (ala Alain Prost). I have to grant him kudos for not doing that. It made for a very exciting race. I only wish that he had possessed the telent and drive to race for the win also. It would have placed a dominant punctuation mark on his championship title. Instead, Lewis goes into the off-season as the winner of the last four races and the dominant driver of the two.

Irish
 
#7 ·
Roseberg didn`t win the Championship it was gifted to him via all the penalties inflicted on Lewis.

Lewis won more races then Roseberg and if I was Lewis I`d wave two fingers at Wolf and his incompetent Mercedes team crew.R)
 
#13 ·
Keep in mind Rosberg knew full well he only needed to finish second in the last 4 races and drove much more conservatively than if he had to win. If this wasn't the case, the results may have been different. He did win the first 4 races of the season on the trot and only 1 less than Hamilton. He had more wins than Hamilton at the time when he realized he only needed to finish second in the remaining races.

Secondly, it's getting old with excuses that it's "Hamilton's crew" that Rosberg won with along with all the conspiracy theories. If that's the case, than Hamilton is no better than Rosberg because he can only win with the better crew. I guess the WDC is now determined by the best crew and not the driver. Maybe Hamilton's last two titles are tarnished now that everyone know's that he had a better crew than Rosberg the last two years. Why would Mercedes pay Hamilton $40 million a year only to sabotage him? Keep in mind Hamilton shot himself in the foot with 5 or 6 bad starts through nobody's fault but his own.
 
#8 ·
Wins don't make prizes on their own. It's a points based system.

Rosberg AND the team around him did. Deserved champion.

Better driver? Not in my opinion.
But having Hamiltons mechs from last season looks to have made a difference.

A better driver would have gone for the race win to underline the title.
Especially knowing a Lewis dnf was game over for Lewis.

The question now is who will get the 2015 & 2016 title winning mech team for 2017?

Only one will be remembered as 2016 champion. That ain't Lewis.
 
#9 ·
Yes Mike correct the 2016 champ is Roseberg...but everyone will remember that he only came out more on points because of the penalties Lewis incurred, just go back to January 2005 Man U v Spurs 0-0 when Mendes scored for spurs at Old Trafford, everyone in the ground knew that ball had crossed the line not by inches but a few feet...except the Ref...
Oh and most probably the local Mercedes dealership.

The hard nosed supporters will always know.R)

Mercedes can now boast 2 world champions but at what price?
 
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