BREAKING: Mercedes initiates police investigation after email to F1 alleges 'sabotaging' of Lewis Hamilton’s vehicle

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team has initiated a police investigation following an anonymous email that accuses the team of deliberately sabotaging Lewis Hamilton's car. The email was sent to a broad list of Formula 1 and media representatives.

It alleges that Mercedes, particularly team principal Toto Wolff, is engaged in "systematic sabotaging" of Hamilton’s vehicle, strategy, and mental well-being. The email purports to be from a Mercedes team member and claims that the team is engaging in "underhand" actions that could potentially endanger Hamilton’s life.

Follow-up messages, reportedly sent via WhatsApp, have compounded these alarming accusations, targeting selected individuals with further claims. Mercedes has categorically denied the veracity of these allegations, affirming that the email did not originate from within the team.

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Speaking at the Spanish Grand Prix, Toto Wolff expressed his dismay at the situation and confirmed that the police are now involved in tracing the source of these malicious communications. "It's not from a member of the team. When we are getting these kinds of emails, and we're getting tons of them, it is upsetting, particularly when there is somebody talking about death and all these things."

“It needs to stop”, says Toto Wolff

Wolff emphasized the seriousness with which Mercedes is treating the matter, revealing that efforts are underway to track the IP address and phone number associated with the messages. "Online abuse in that way needs to stop. People can't hide behind their phones or their computers and abuse teams or drivers in a way like this," he added.

The Mercedes boss also refuted any suggestion that the team would intentionally compromise their performance in the Constructors' Championship by sabotaging one of their drivers. "Lewis has been part of the team for 12 years. We have a friendship. We trust each other. We want to end this on a high," he said.

Addressing the broader issue of online abuse, Wolff expressed frustration with anonymous critics who hide behind fake identities to launch attacks. "There will always be people that have the laptop on their chest in their bedroom and just typing away," he noted.