- 12 Oct 21, 00:20#447393At the end of last season an emotional Toto Wolf almost cried when he realised that the German legend Schumacher's record was likely to be beaten ,and Mercedes were going to make it possible. He stalled on Hamilton's contract, but couldn't be sure he wouldn't go to Ferrari, and win. He realised that, as in 2016, when Mercedes wanted a German World Champion, engine problems resulted in grid penalties , and of the eight cars on the grid using Mercedes engines, only Hamilton's suffered, and persistently, and Toto got his German World champion. However, this time he needed a credible rival and he opted for Red Bull and Max Verstappen , whose engineering team was suddenly swamped with ex Mercedes personnel who didn't see themselves as betrayers ,but defenders of Schumacher,the German legend In Turkey, we had the 'precautionary' mod that resulted in a grid penalty, and Ocon told Hamilton he'd gone the whole race without refuelling, confirming his belief that fuel stop HAD been unnecessary. Toto Wolf has finally showed his full hand, he has got Hamilton under contract for the next two years by when he'll be nearly 40, he's made his protégé Bottas part of the opposition and allotted Hamilton novice George Russell as back up. I'd be happy to be proved wrong ,but Hamilton hasn't got a hope in hell.