Lewis Hamilton news: Season end ‘can’t come soon enough’, moans Mercedes star

Lewis Hamilton’s time at Mercedes took another tough turn at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil, where he described his weekend as one of his worst experiences on the track.

Sports News Blitz’s F1 writer Noah Ngcobo takes a look at how Hamilton’s season hit an all-time low in Brazil, where he once again struggled to show future employers Ferrari anything to get excited about.

Hamilton frustration

Frustrated by the performance of his W15, Hamilton ultimately placed 10th in the main race, marking the first time he finished that low since the 2022 Saudi Arabian GP and only the fourth time in his career.

The seven-time world champion summed up the weekend bluntly, saying: “The race was crap.”

The trouble began on Friday during FP1, with Hamilton expressing discomfort due to the car’s excessive bouncing, describing it as feeling like he was driving on a “wooden plank”.

His struggles continued into both Sprint qualifying and the Sprint race, where he finished down in 11th.

On Sunday morning, he was knocked out early in Q1, securing only 16th in qualifying.

Challenging position

After grid penalties for Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen, he moved up a couple of spots but still started from a challenging position.

Throughout the main race, Hamilton wrestled with grip issues and an unpredictable set-up that left him battling on the fringes of the points.

He expressed his frustration over team radio, calling it a “disaster weekend” and “the worst the car’s ever been”.

Despite the challenging conditions, he managed to take one point with a 10th-place finish, but the weekend left him visibly exasperated.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Man Utd analysis: The defenders likely to play in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 formation

Taking its toll

He mentioned he “could happily go for a holiday”, as it was clear the W15’s performance had taken a toll on him.

This weekend’s result saw him slip behind team-mate George Russell, who finished fourth, swapping places with Hamilton in the drivers' standings.

The race underscored Hamilton’s dissatisfaction with the current set-up and hinted at his eagerness to close out his Mercedes chapter, saying: “The end can’t come soon enough.”

With his move to Ferrari on the horizon, Hamilton may not have many more opportunities to deliver standout performances for Mercedes, making these last races both challenging and bittersweet.

While his time with Mercedes is winding down, Hamilton acknowledged the dedication of his team, expressing gratitude for their hard work despite the car’s issues.

His focus now is on the final races in Qatar, Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi, where he hopes to finish strong and leave the struggles of the W15 behind as he prepares for a new chapter with Ferrari.

READ MORE: NBA betting tips: Grizzlies to stifle LA Lakers, Boston Celtics clash with Warriors

Noah Ngcobo

Noah Ngcobo has a Bachelor's degree in Media & Writing from the University of Cape Town and is now doing an Honours in Media Theory & Practice.

Noah writes the Premier League Team of the Week column for Sports News Blitz and is passionate about football (soccer), NBA, UFC, boxing and rugby union.

He is a Man Utd fan who also supports the Springboks, Bafana Bafana and LA Lakers.

Previous
Previous

Coco Gauff and Simone Biles leading the way as women’s sports booms in 2024

Next
Next

NBA betting tips: Grizzlies to stifle LA Lakers, Boston Celtics clash with Warriors