A visibly angry Toto Wolff condemned in the strongest terms the "upsetting" email, which he denied had come from a member of Mercedes' 1,500-strong workforce. The email had been sent to major Formula One figures, including the FIA.
"This email did not come from a team member. It is deeply upsetting, with someone talking about death threats," Wolff stated. "We have instructed the police to investigate and trace the IP address."
Wolff emphasized the need to end online abuse, stating, "People cannot hide behind their phones and send such abuse to drivers. These lunatics and mad people out there - they need help."
Wolff's comments were in response to a report by Britain's Press Association about an email that claimed Lewis Hamilton was being mistreated by Mercedes following his decision to leave for Ferrari next season. The email, titled "a potential death warrant for Lewis," accused Wolff of being "vindictive" and doing everything possible "to get back at the driver for quitting Mercedes."
Wolff vehemently rejected these accusations. "We want to succeed with the most iconic driver we've ever had. Working with Lewis has been a privilege; he is an incredible personality. We fully respect his reasons for moving to Ferrari, and there are no hard feelings. Every comment suggesting otherwise is wrong."
He further asserted, "There is a limit, and the joking stops here. We will pursue this matter. People who abuse online are cowards. That's one of the negatives of social media."
Wolff emphasized the long-standing relationship with Hamilton, saying, "Lewis has been part of the team for 12 years. We have a friendship, we trust each other, and we want to end on a high note."
He concluded by addressing online abusers directly, "There are always people typing away in their bedrooms, hiding behind fake Instagram accounts. If you want to abuse, come out and say who you are. Don't hide."
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