Woking, Surrey - Lewis Hamilton says he trusts his Mercedes crew “1000 percent” as he warned fans not to get caught up in talk of the team conspiring against him in favour of team-mate Nico Rosberg.
Rosberg has won all four races this season - and the past seven in total - while triple world champion Hamilton has been bedevilled by mechanical problems and currently lies 43 points behind Rosberg in second place in the standings.
“Dear All, I want you to know how grateful I am for all of your support,” Hamilton wrote on Facebook . “I'd like to ask that you please trust in my team, as I do.
“This is my family. These guys have been the greatest, hardest working people for me, and that is why I am now three times World Champion.
“Please don't put any more thought into my team doing anything unjust towards me, and understand that it would be in nobody’s best interest for that to be the case.”
He added: “We've had the best three years together, and whilst it's not going to plan right now, all will unfold in its own time. I trust these guys 1000 percent and my mechanics are incredible, the best in the business. I respect them so please do the same.
“They are the guys that are going to make winning this championship possible. Thank you once again. #Love#TeamLHMERCEDES AMG PETRONAS.”
Also read: Mercedes dismisses conspiracy theories
At last weekend's Russian Grand Prix in Sochi, Hamilton started 10th on the grid following an engine failure in qualifying and then suffered another mechanical problem before finishing the race second.
Since winning at the Black Sea resort in 2015, Hamilton has won only once - the following race in the United States where he clinched the title.
After Sunday's race, Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff said the conspiracy theorists suggesting his outfit favour Rosberg are “a bunch of lunatics”.
“I want to ignore this bunch of lunatics who think we would want to harm a driver, who is our driver and who has been a double world champion for us,” said Wolff.
AFP