Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Principal, CEO, and team co-owner Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton’s decision not to attend tonight’s FIA prize-giving gala in Paris is not only unsporting but it also sets a dangerous precedent.
Lewis Hamilton is a role model to thousands if not millions of young people and young drivers coming through the ranks of junior motorsport and by not showing up to the end of season prize giving, Hamilton is effectively saying that it is acceptable to be a sore loser.
The news that Lewis Hamilton will not be in Paris today to accept his second place in the championship is a breach of Article 6.6 of the Formula One Sporting Regulations which state that the top three in the driver’s championship must attend the end of season gala event.
Mercedes has also opted not to have either their Formula One or Formula E cars at the event.
Toto Wolff said that he is not attending tonight’s event out of loyalty to Lewis Hamilton, however, by being loyal to Hamilton he is showing a complete disregard to the team who worked extremely hard to ensure that the team secured their eighth consecutive Constructors championship.
The team has confirmed that chief technical officer James Allison will accept the trophy for the Constructors championship.
Formula One is a team sport and by not attending the end of season gala both Hamilton and Wolff are showing that they are just in the sport for themselves.
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