Wolff backs Hamilton to remain ‘a pro’ amid Mercedes troubles

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has no doubts that Lewis Hamilton will continue to act like the veteran professional leader he is amid the Brackley squad’s continued troubles.

Things haven't been smooth sailing for Hamilton in his final season with Mercedes. The arrival of ground-effect regulations in Formula 1 two years ago ushered in an era of inconsistency for the Silver Arrows contenders, and 2024 has been no exception.

The Ferrari-bound driver’s journey this season has been a series of peaks and troughs. Hamilton initially praised the W15 as "an amazing car" after the first two races, only to express a complete lack of confidence after practice in Australia.

A glimmer of hope emerged with a "best feeling of the year" on Friday in Japan, followed by a strong second-place finish in the Chinese Sprint.

However, that momentum vanished with a shocking Q1 knockout at the same track.

• Read also: Hamilton warned about life at Maranello amid Newey talk

Despite these frustrating inconsistencies, Wolff remains confident in Hamilton's enduring professionalism.

Even with a lack of podium finishes so far, the Mercedes team principal believes the seven-time world champion will continue to support his outfit and maintain a strong working relationship with teammate George Russell.

"I think that Lewis is a pro and has behaved in that way until now, trying to keep his morale up and the morale of the team even if the results don’t come", the Austrian said, quoted by Motorsport.com.

"I have no doubt that this is going to last. He has also been supportive with George."

In Japan recently, Hamilton reiterated his focus on his duties with Mercedes, emphasizing his commitment to finishing his tenure with the German outfit on a high, putting any thoughts about his upcoming switch to Ferrari on hold.

“Right now, I want to finish on a high here", the Briton told the media at Suzuka.

"So all my energy is going into this. Of course, there's excitement for the future. But right now, we're going through a difficult place. That's my challenge.

"That's where all my energy is going, to try and figure out how we can get ourselves back to the top. How can I work with the guys? How can I give better debriefs, give them better direction to get back fighting at the front?

"I'm a competitor first and foremost, so I want to win. Just thinking about the next year isn't going to help me do that."

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