Mercedes say there are not any plans for Lewis Hamilton to get replaced for the ultimate three races of the 2024 Method 1 season, regardless of the seven-time world champion’s cryptic post-race feedback in Brazil.
Hamilton endured a torrid weekend on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, selecting up only one level as he completed eleventh in Saturday’s Dash and tenth in Sunday’s race after making early exits in each qualifying periods.
The 39-year-old is leaving Mercedes after 12 years to affix Ferrari subsequent season, and his remarks over staff radio after which throughout his post-race interviews led to hypothesis the connection might be reduce even shorter than anticipated.
“That was a catastrophe of a weekend, guys,” Hamilton stated on staff radio. “The worst the automobile has ever been. Thanks for contributing to try to nice job to all the blokes on the pit-stop.
“If that is the final time I get to carry out it was a disgrace it wasn’t nice however (I’m) grateful for you.”
Then, talking to Sky Sports activities F1, he added that he “might fortunately go and take a vacation” slightly than drive on the season-ending triple-header in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
After exiting Dash Qualifying early on Friday, Hamilton stated he was “not massively bothered” by what occurred over the rest of the weekend.
Regardless of not providing any official remark, Mercedes sources have indicated to Sky Sports activities Information that there are not any doubts throughout the staff that Hamilton will drive within the subsequent three races.
Lewis Hamilton struggled within the rain round Interlagos, qualifying solely sixteenth for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
In the meantime, a potential rationalization for Hamilton’s radio remarks is that his obvious farewell feedback had been directed at staff members working in Sao Paulo who won’t be current for the ultimate three rounds of the season.
Mercedes have signed Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Hamilton’s 2025 alternative. The 18-year-old made his second follow look for the staff eventually month’s Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix.
Mid-season hope fades as Hamilton goodbye nears
Hamilton’s ultimate marketing campaign with Mercedes appeared set to finish in fashion as he claimed two victories within the ultimate three races earlier than the game’s summer time break, capping a run of six successive top-four finishes.
Nonetheless, the W15’s efficiency has dropped off because the summer time break, with Hamilton failing to say a podium end within the seven races since.
Lewis Hamilton wins the British GP and is left emotional on the staff radio straight after
Mercedes are a transparent fourth within the pecking order behind McLaren, Ferrari and Purple Bull, whereas the Sunday’s outcome at Interlagos noticed Hamilton fall to seventh within the drivers’ standings, two factors beneath team-mate George Russell.
Hamilton’s poor efficiency at Interlagos – a observe he has produced brilliance at prior to now – was significantly shocking given Russell was in rivalry for race victory.
“We had been simply sluggish,” Hamilton instructed Sky Sports activities F1. “The automobile was actually, actually powerful.
Forward of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton drove Ayrton Senna’s 1990 championship successful McLaren MP4/5B in tribute to the F1 legend
“The staff might have received additionally immediately, so a minimum of one automobile was behaving loads higher.”
“It is like a plank of wooden. It is like, no suspension. It is bouncing on the tyres in every single place and you may’t get on the ability anyplace. It is simply the worst journey, I believe the worst journey that we have undoubtedly ever had, significantly by corners. It is simply so stiff.”
Method 1 returns after a three-week break with the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 22-24, reside on Sky Sports activities F1. Get Sky Sports activities F1 to look at each race and extra reside
