SmallSoldier wrote: ↑07 Feb 2022, 21:43
AeroDynamic wrote: ↑07 Feb 2022, 21:31
SmallSoldier wrote: ↑07 Feb 2022, 21:21
First, the two are unrelated… Second, there is no reason for Mercedes to address speculation “by the media”, they don’t need to.
Finally, what more is needed after they’ve posted a picture of their driver, in uniform saying “Welcome Back” (for what, his last pay check? Lol).
Why do they need to be related? They have a parallel. You can say the FIA didn’t need to address media speculation either, but they did. Mercedes don’t have to address it, They could though, the media will ask anyway.
It would be a bit weird if Mercedes’ didn’t join in with the other people who welcomed Hamilton’s return back to
social media which is separate from returning to F1.
Why FIA is addressing Massi? Because he is at the center of the polemic behind the Abu Dhabi race, which has had a lot of backlash from fans… The fact that the FIA is reviewing the situation and the decisions he made during that race of course will include his job as Race Director, they are addressing that and rightfully so.
The fact that Hamilton simply decided he was going to take time off from the Media (been sport or social) is completely different… The speculation on his continuation in the sport was created by the media, the Team nor Hamilton have a need to address it.
There no parallels among both situations… But, it’s clear that you think that Mercedes has to address it and they disagree with you (and in reality, they have, just not the way you want it?).
The media no doubt fuelled the ambiguous insinuations by Mercedes and Hamilton but the latter definitely knew what they were doing in front of the media when said the things they have said and didn’t say. I.e.
“We’ll see about next year”
Along with Wolff inferring Hamilton may not continue “I hope he does”
Why would you need to see about the rest of your contract, or hope your driver continues, if the situation isn’t wide open about your driver continuing or not? Everyone would know why after the protests. So, I think it’s a bit of a cop out to blame the media for this speculation.
They should come out and address it.
Yes the FIA situation isn’t identical, but the parallel is, they didn’t need to address speculation about Masi because they didn’t make an official announcement about firing him or keeping him on. They just said he may not continue as race director, just like Hamilton and Mercedes have refused to rule out retirement for Hamilton when they declined to comment.
But yes in my opinion, they should address it after allowing all that speculation to play into their hand that they themselves encouraged. When the opportunity presents itself.
If you know your driver is racing with you next year, you don’t decline to comment or say “I hope so” you come out and say “no lewis will be racing with us next year”