Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes Lewis Hamilton’s “anger” will help fuel the fire ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after missing out on pole by 0.371s to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Hamilton and Verstappen are equal on points heading into the final race of the season, with the winner, or the driver who finishes higher, crowned champion.
Red Bull’s spectacular strategy call during the final part of qualifying helped the championship leader shoot to the top of the timing screens, with Hamilton starting in second with McLaren’s Lando Norris P3.
According to his boss, the seven-time world champion will be channeling his frustrations into the race on Sunday.
When asked if he will speak about the start of the race with Hamilton, Wolff told Sky Sports F1: “I think there’s nothing you need to say. I think he’s going to be angry, and that’s good and motivated for tomorrow to just hunt him [Verstappen] down.
“We on the back foot and sometimes you need to see the positive and that’s not too bad as a starting point.”
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The title, which will be decided on Sunday, has ebbed and flowed between the two drivers, with the title coming down to the wire in Abu Dhabi for the first time since Nico Rosberg in 2016.
Yet, the Austrian admitted tyres weren’t their only concern going into the final winner-takes-all race.
“I’m also worried for tomorrow because their long runs were much better on Friday,” added Wolff. “Our times were just not in the window, they were.
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