Lewis Hamilton has cast light on a curious message to his team over the radio after the previous grand prix in Brazil.
The Mercedes driver endured a torrid weekend in Interlagos, taking just a single point in tenth place, six positions and almost half a minute behind team mate George RussellAfter taking the chequered flag, Hamilton described his weekend as a “disaster” over team radio as he returned to the pits.
“That’s the worst the car’s ever been,” he said. “But thank you for continuing to try.
“Great job to all the guys at the pit stop. If this is the last time that I get to perform, it’s a shame it wasn’t great, but grateful for you.”
Asked ahead of this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix about what he meant by “if this is the last time”, Hamilton said he was considering not returning for the final three rounds after he had finished the race.
“In the moment, that’s how I felt,” he said. “I didn’t really want to come back after that weekend.
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“But I think that’s only natural. It’s frustrating when you have a season like this. Which I’m pretty sure I won’t have again, or, at least, I’ll work towards not having again. It wasn’t a great feeling in that moment. But I’m here, I’m standing strong and I’m going to give it absolutely everything for these last few races.”
Heading into the first race of his final three rounds as a Mercedes driver, Hamilton says he does not expect the cool November night temperatures in Las Vegas to suit Mercedes.
“It’s not going to be great for us,” he said. “We’ve always struggled with tyre temperature, getting temperature in. And then at the hot tracks, overheating and then at [cooler] tracks like this, it will probably be a real challenge. But I think everyone will have that.”
Hamilton is also concerned about the lack of grip on the circuit, which is open to traffic between F1 sessions. “There’s a section of the track that’s open to the public, which will be messy and there’s no one driving for us,” he said. “So I wish we had the F1 Academy here this weekend. That’d have been cool.”
Although there were no support events for F1’s first visit to Las Vegas last year, two Ferrari Challenge races will take place this weekend. F1 Academy will join the support roster in 2025.
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2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix
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Ben
21st November 2024, 12:50
I don’t blame him. Looking at the onboards theres zero chance that him and Russell were driving the same car in Brazil.
I don’t think it’s the team actively sabotaging Hamilton, but with the car having such a small set-up window it looks like Hamilton is missing out on key data meetings etc and that’s really hurting his ability to set the car up correctly.
I do also wonder if any tricks Mercedes could be using to help their pace aren’t happening on Hamiltons car. RedBull called out rivals for water cooling the tyres for example. Now I’m not saying this is something Mercedes are doing, but if they are and they plan to continue to do so next year then not letting Hamilton have this information would make sense. That’s just one example, and there could be many things Mercedes are experimenting with.
I’m looking forward to him joining Ferrari and having a fresh start. I think he’ll have a hard time against Leclerc, but any doubt of him having the same car will be removed. He’ll be committed to ending his career at Ferrari, so if he doesn’t perform then it’ll be on him.
David BR (@david-br)
21st November 2024, 13:23
Well, it’s good to see this possibility that Hamilton’s performance has been compromised (relative to Russell) by car issues finally acknowledged. Though Wolff and co have been happy to let the ‘Lewis in decline’ meme rumble on knowing full well what’s actually been happening. All self-interest in the end.
I wondered about Hamilton’s radio message at the end of the Brazil GP too at the time. The fact is he could have skipped half the season and it would have been way better for him and the team. I guess there’s a ton of sponsorship stuff that would have prevented it.
SPArtacus
21st November 2024, 13:40
Well, that’s a narrative you’d like to embrace because Hamilton is your favorite driver. The truth is obviously in between. The car’s characteristics do not gel with Hamilton’s preferred preferences and he has never excelled at driving fundamentally mediocre chassis while unstable cars are what Russell has driven his entire career, which gives him an advantage there.
Either way, Lewis is only separated from GR by a handful of points. So, the entire narrative that Lewis has collapsed that some try to push is just silly. It’s just not one of his better seasons. Nothing more. But F1 is full of fans who judge drivers by their last weekend and who love any chance they can take to call the older drivers “washed.” It’s tiresome.
David BR (@david-br)
21st November 2024, 17:12
So you basically agree with me. I never said it was one of Hamilton’s best seasons. How could it be? It’s why I think skipping the season would have been ideal, neither side (Lewis or the team) was really interested in him driving for Mercedes after the Ferrari move was announced, a fact reflected in his own motivation (sure, he tried) and the team’s.
SPArtacus
22nd November 2024, 2:23
For the most part, but I do not agree with arguments like he is not being given the full support of the team, his strategy and or setup desires ignored, etc. I’ve seen stated and/or implied regularly by 3-4 members. I am also surprised how little criticism his defeatist attitude gets + how quick people are to excuse it or use it as an excuse when he struggles (“he’s a 7x WDC, he doesn’t care about competing for 5th, 7th, etc. or “he’s ready for a change of pace”). If he doesn’t care about competing for 5th places, that’s just a poor reflection on him rather than a valid excuse.
Anyway, unrelated to you, I am very disappointed to see the virulent ageism among many fans. Sure, time takes it toll, but I can’t count how many people I’ve seen call Hamilton and Alonso “grandpa,” “dinosaur,” etc. I assume they’re immature kids for the most part though. It’s like they forget that both these drivers literally beat everyone in the field last year besides the RBR drivers in cars no better than the Ferrari and McLaren.
SteveP
22nd November 2024, 8:14
There are youngsters who join my workplace who make similar comments, for a few days, before realising that some people have the talent to remember the important stuff – not static facts, but how to find the root of the problem and fix or bypass the ever dynamic problem.
Hamilton, Alonso have it, so does Verstappen I think – many people would be happier if he gave problems some thought rather than bludgeoning through like his father always did.
David BR (@david-br)
23rd November 2024, 1:40
Hamilton has delivered 7 titles and a record number of wins and pole positions. He’s going to Ferrari next year because he wants to win the 8th title that eluded him in 2021. How is any of that indicative of chronic defeatism? I think you’re confusing the term with frustration. Like today, he leads both Friday sessions. How many people think Mercedes will be ahead tomorrow or Hamilton ahead of Russell? Virtually nobody I imagine. And that’s been a feature all season. Is that down to declining pace? Clearly not. Have Mercedes sabotaging him? No, but neither have they been maximizing the chances or sharing all their data and plans with a driver about to switch to a major rival. They turned their focus to Antonelli long ago.
I see this season quite differently. Hamilton decided on Ferrari early and told the team well in advance so they could plan for 2025. He’s been repaid with comments from Wolff like ‘everyone has a shelf life’. I think Hamilton has displayed more stoicism than defeatism. His main fault is saying what he’s feeling in the moment, though it’s not really a fault, just something others exploit for their own agendas.
Greg
21st November 2024, 14:43
There´s no reason why the should have the same car, or have access to the same data, at this stage of the season is more than likely that Hamilton is no longer part of most meetings and he only receiving the most basic info. And, since Mercedes knows Hamilton will move to Ferrari any new components are designed with GR in mind and installed in his car first.
notagrumpyfan
21st November 2024, 15:51
Also from trackside you could at times see two cars at the same time; thus certainly not the same car.
And when zooming out one could see the curvature of the earth, disproving that the earth is flat.
Ben
21st November 2024, 16:51
Made me laugh more than it should have done @notagrumpyfan! I think it’s been a long week!
SPArtacus
22nd November 2024, 2:25
LMAO
SPArtacus
21st November 2024, 13:24
Hamilton has always been quick to give up and get demotivated when he’s not driving a top 2 car. It’s one of his few flaws as a driver.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
21st November 2024, 14:16
I’m not sure it’s a flaw necessarily.
Moi
21st November 2024, 14:24
So what would you call it?
If Max gave up when not driving the top car, he wouldn’t be on the cusp of a 4th title right now.
Carl Parker (@mysticarl)
21st November 2024, 14:29
Max has a top car and has done bar a small handful of races, if he was in the Merc he’d be nowhere near the title same as George or Lewis.
Lets wait until this time next year and see how he is at Ferrari. We’ll soon know if he’s nowhere, same as we did with Danny Ric when he swapped teams.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
21st November 2024, 14:45
What are you basing that on?
Max is driving a car that has a 31% win ratio and a 72% chance of podiuming.
And the only reason these stats are not higher are because of Mercedes in the previous era. If Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton didn’t exist, that car would have enjoyed 95% chance of podiuming and 50%-70% wins and that’s including the eras when the Red Bull wasn’t competitive.
But let’s not look at the stats. And he’s on his way to the 4th title mostly thanks to Masi and the FIA and a team that won’t allow another driver to compete with Max.
NM
21st November 2024, 15:09
the last line shows it isn’t worth looking at anything you brought in, just a salty fan.
NM
21st November 2024, 15:11
look at the 21 stats bye the way to see who was the deserved champion that year.
Craig
21st November 2024, 15:26
@NM I’d not hold those stats too high, seeing as the one you think was “deserving” was on course to lose legitimately before Masi stepped in.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
21st November 2024, 16:16
@NM yeah, and there’s a President who was also voted in but the entire world does not consider him deserving of that spot. I’m not sure why votes would matter but if it helps I voted against him and I prioritize my vote over other people’s.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
21st November 2024, 16:17
100% Salty, 100% True!
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
21st November 2024, 22:27
Yeah, guys like Carlos, or Yuki aren’t getting the call because Max knows he can beat Perez up.
F1’s only real hope right now is Ferrari, and in all honesty, its probably right about time for Ferrari to show up, in order for them to get their cut of the pie.
FrankT
22nd November 2024, 10:27
hahaha You just exposed yourself to be not taken serious;y. At this point it is nothing more than being willingly ignorant. If you still keep repeating the nonsense you just said, it is a YOU problem, nothing more. Maybe try to enjoy this sport instead of abusing it for your own favouritism…..
Edvaldo
21st November 2024, 17:51
Both in Interlagos and in COTA he didn’t go past Q1, because the setup was very bad.
Both times he was denied to start from the pit lane to work on the car and the race was a predictable disaster.
Mercedes is in no man’s land in both championships, so their game now is to save money for the rest of the season, they couldn’t care less if Hamilton is bringing points or not, doesn’t change a thing for them.