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Wolff on Lewis Hamilton: If people got to know him they would change their minds

Wolff on Lewis Hamilton: "If people got to know him they would change their minds"

08-01-2020 14:48
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Lewis Hamilton is the most successful British Formula 1 driver of all time and is only one world championship win away from equalizing Michael Schumacher's all-time record. However, he still hasn't been knighted and was not included in the list of honors for 2019. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff finds it hard to know why Hamilton hasn't been rewarded for his success. 

"It is difficult for me as an Austrian to understand the importance of the British honor system," Wolff said to The Telegraph“It feels like there is a lot of polarization around Lewis, especially in the UK. I don't know why that is, but I do know that when Lewis stops racing one day, people will recognize his successes and his status as a superstar.”

Wolff drew a comparison with skier Marcel Hirscher, someone Austria will always be proud of, according to the team boss.

“I don't feel that with Lewis and the UK. I think that if people got to know him, even the most skeptical, they would change their minds," he said. 

While the life of Lewis Hamilton is, according to some, somewhat exuberant, his team boss has no problem with hi lifestyle choices. 

“I look at the person behind the image. Years ago I was in a pub in Vienna and a Hollywood star came in. There was no space, but the manager of the star asked for space. "Do you have any idea who this is," he asked the owner. The answer? "We are all superstars in our own way," after which he showed them both.

“When I interact with people, I don't care who they are at all. I respect how they are. How they deal with certain things, what their norms and values ​​are. This is why my relationship with Lewis has never been troubled by his rock star image."

If Hamilton does go on to equal the all-time record then surely he will have done enough to receive a knighthood.