Hamilton, Mercedes Benz and the Code

Lewis Hamilton is a Mercedes Benz Formula One driver currently in second place vying for the Championship.  In Sunday’s race, he kept his word: that if his teammate would allow him to pass him and go for the lead, if he could not overtake the two cars ahead of him, he would drop back and allow his teammate the third place finish, which is what he did.  It cost Hamilton three critical points in the race for the championship.  Mercedes chief Toto Wolff on Monday hailed his team’s integrity and claimed that sportsmanship is more important to their brand than a ruthless pursuit of success at all costs. “I think the purpose of us being here is, it is doing the right things and winning in the right way. And sometimes doing it the right way and standing by your values is tough. It was today, believe me.”

The Code says, “I will put team goals ahead of personal goals.” How is this done on your teams all the time?  Can you think of other examples in which a player sacrificed an individual high honor for the sake of the team?

Posted in

Get The Book

Buy ABW’s complete book on developing character through sports Winning More Than The Game

FREE Tip of the Week Newsletter

OUR SPONSORS