Wolff is best leader in F1 - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has hailed Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff as "the best leader" in Formula 1 after the team secured a record-breaking seventh consecutive constructors' title at Imola.

Mercedes has been the dominant force in F1 since 2014 and, while Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas have all played a part in this, Wolff has been the man behind the scenes pulling the strings to create an all-conquering outfit.

The future of the Austrian within the paddock remains uncertain with his contract up at the end of 2020, but Hamilton left no doubt as to the importance of the 48-year-old to the team, describing him as the "best leader".

"We very rarely see him at the front there and he came and did an interview, so I thought that he was coming up [to the podium] – but I think whilst it would have been nice for him to be up there with us, I think that’s a real showing of a leader [that he didn't]," said Hamilton.

"He’s not trying to be at the front of every photo. He’s not trying to claim anything. He puts the team first. I think that’s… without doubt he is the best leader here.

"It doesn’t matter what anyone says, no-one has done as good a job as he has."

Explaining the qualities Wolff brings to the role that make him so effective at his job, Hamilton added: "I think it’s his mentality, the balance of drive, compassion, understanding and ego.

"All of them come together to create the best boss you could have. Every single person in the team, no-one’s below him, and he really cares about how everyone is doing: ‘how’re things away from the track?’, ‘how’s things at home with your family – is there anything we can do so you can be better at the office?’

"He’s a great guy and I feel privileged to have him as our leader. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without his guidance."

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