Hamilton ‘doesn’t pick up phone’ and is ‘tough’ to manage, reveals Mercedes boss Wolff

TOTO WOLFF has given an insight in the challenges of managing Lewis Hamilton.

Mercedes team boss Wolff has a close relationship with the brilliant British driver who has been crowned world champion five times.

But the 47-year-old admits there can be frustrating times working with Hamilton because of his active life away from the track.

Asked what it was like being Hamilton's boss, Wolff said: “Tough! Especially with all those away-from the track activities Lewis likes to indulge in.

"I'm always worried, and we had a laugh last year because I couldn't get hold of him and couldn't get hold of my chief strategist and one of the race engineers.

"I found out they were racing motorbikes in Jerez and nobody would pick up the phone.

"And then they were a bit apologetic. But Lewis is not an 18 or 19-year-old young man any more.

“He's a five-time World Champion. He knows exactly what works for him and what doesn't."

Hamilton, 34, has just begun his bid to win a sixth world title as he continues to carve out a lasting legacy as one of the all-time greats of motor racing.

He finished second in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix last week, trailing in  behind impressive team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

The team has now moved on to the Middle East for the Bahrain Grand Prix which will take place next week – with Hamilton looking to find the speed he lacked on Bottas in Melbourne.

But the signs were promising for the Mercdes outfit with the car looking to be quicker than their big rivals from Ferrari and Red Bull.

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