Mercedes have hilariously taken to Twitter to shut down users who have ridiculed and turned on them in the aftermath of their disappointing qualifying performance in Bahrain.
Having set 88 laps during Friday practice in Sakhir, George Russell ended the two sessions fourth, while Sir Lewis Hamilton came home seventh and then ninth.
Both of them reiterated their previous statements that they are a significant margin behind Red Bull and Ferrari, something that Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen and Mattia Binotto had all since dismissed.
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However, the 37-year-old qualified fifth in Sakhir, with his compatriot a further four positions behind, confirming their apprehension that they had fallen off their perch.
Every team goes through bad spells – Ferrari are Formula 1’s most successful team and they have just come out of an abysmal one – and Mercedes have no time for fans who will turn their backs on the Brackley side when the going gets tough.
They responded to a fan making negative comments and suggesting that they no longer wanted to support the team with a waving and laugh crying emoji, with the original tweet since being deleted.
They received an abundance of praise from other fans, who have pledged their allegiance through thick and thin.
“Admin, you’re legends. True fans are here through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows,” replied one user, with Mercedes saying “We appreciate everyone who sticks with us through the good and the not so good” in response.
“Hahaha, Admin just said Sayonara to that one,” said another fan.
Mercedes went on to reply to a user they had blocked after they too publicised what the eight-time constructors’ champions deemed as excessively harsh criticism.
“We have unblocked in this scenario, we understand emotions running high during sessions but we also have clear community guidelines that we stick to – in order to make our community a safe space,” they tweeted.
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“Your earlier reply did not follow our community guidelines and therefore we took action.”