Rumours of discord at Mercedes between Toto and Hamilton at root of Liberty's F1 Live event no show in London:
Lewis Hamilton snubbed F1 Live after raging with Mercedes as team woos Sebastian Vettel for 30th birthdayLewis Hamilton did not attend the F1 Live event in London on Wednesday
Hamilton was the only one of the sport's 20 drivers not to attend the event
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was a guest at Sebastian Vettel's birthday
It is conceivable Wolff's action played apart in Hamilton's disgruntlement
By JONATHAN MCEVOY FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 22:31 BST, 12 July 2017 | UPDATED: 01:53 BST, 13 July 2017
"The plot thickened around Lewis Hamilton’s extraordinary non-appearance at Formula One’s promotional event in London on Wednesday night after it emerged that his Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was a guest at championship rival Sebastian Vettel’s 30th birthday party.
Wolff’s attendance at Vettel’s at-home celebration in Switzerland is all the more surprising given that the party took place between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix — at which Vettel rammed Hamilton off the road — and the FIA hearing into the collision the following Monday.
It is conceivable that Wolff’s decision to attend Vettel’s shindig is key to Hamilton’s apparent disgruntlement with his team — a situation seemingly so bad that it played a part in his staying away from Trafalgar Square on Wednesday night.
The triple world champion was booed when mentioned on stage.
This is a PR disaster for Hamilton, Mercedes and new owners Liberty Media, who organised the extravaganza to promote the British Grand Prix, which will take place at Silverstone on Sunday.
Why Hamilton would stay away is almost beyond understanding. He was the only driver of the 20 on the grid not to be in London in front of his home fans.
He announced his non-intentions on Twitter and Instagram on Tuesday, but maintained radio silence yesterday.
Hamilton may well have been influenced by Wolff’s equivocal remarks immediately after the Azerbaijan incident, in which Vettel drove into Hamilton in a fit of rage.
Asked for his comments, Wolff said he needed to speak to Vettel first before pronouncing — a staggeringly open-minded comment from a boss who might have been expected to jump to his man’s defense, not least when Hamilton had been so obviously slighted.
This all adds to the suspicion that Wolff is lining up Vettel, a German for a German team, as a replacement for Hamilton, whose future plans are uncertain.
Wolff looked ill at ease on stage in Trafalgar Square — he has been suffering from flu but is said to have recovered — as he was pressed about Hamilton’s absence.
He said: ‘Lewis feels he is in such a tough championship fight that he needed the days off after Austria, but you can see him at Silverstone.’
Hamilton was booed when 1996 world champion Damon Hill, holding the RAC trophy awarded to the British Grand Prix winner, told the crowd of thousands that if they closed their eyes they could dream that Hamilton would win the race.
Towards the end of the evening, all the Formula One drivers were welcomed on stage. Only one man was missing — Hamilton. It was sad to see him slit his own throat so wantonly in front of the countrymen and women he has represented so brilliantly by his driving.
As the evening drew to a close, Hamilton’s old rival and current world champion Nico Rosberg, mischievously asked the crowd who they wanted to win the British Grand Prix on Sunday, Vettel or Hamilton? The Brit got a slightly bigger cheer, but Vettel’s support was robust.
‘I’m surprised Sebastian has a lot of support,’ said Rosberg, who had flown to London for the evening.
Vettel got a generous reception when he stepped on to the stage. Not a single boo could be heard.
Hamilton, speaking last month, said he felt much-maligned at home, having moved first to Switzerland and then to Monaco.
‘I don’t think I’ve done any wrongdoings to anyone in my life, and I never feel in any part of my day that I deserve anything,’ he said."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formul ... paign=1490The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. - Winston Churchill
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