Hamilton crane operator “most likely labored for Cirque du Soleil”, jokes Wolff


Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff admitted he was alarmed to see Lewis Hamilton’s automobile being craned excessive within the air at a steep angle in last follow.

The W14 chassis was collected by a crane after Hamilton crashed at Mirabeau close to the tip of the session. At one level the automobile tilted to a really steep angle, then settled, earlier than being raised excessive into the air.

Cranes are usually used to elevate stranded vehicles from the monitor in Monaco to hurry up restoration occasions. Sergio Perez’s Pink Bull was collected the identical method in qualifying.

Wolff admitted he didn’t benefit from the sight of certainly one of his group’s vehicles being handled this fashion, notably because it allowed components which are ordinarily hidden, similar to the ground, to be seen clearly.

“Whoever carried out the crane has most likely labored for Cirque du Soleil earlier than,” he advised media together with RaceFans. “Truthfully, that I don’t even comprehend.

“The automobile was on the highway, you can have put it on it on a truck and quite [than] that you just’re showcasing the automobile to everybody on this planet. That was sub-optimum for us, to say the least.”

Nonetheless he made it clear he didn’t intend to criticise the marshals. “All people’s doing the very best and I don’t wish to be a group principal that lashes out on stewards which are doing their job.”

Footage: Hamilton’s crash and restoration in last follow

2023 Monaco Grand Prix

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