Lewis Hamilton’s decision to allow George Russell to overtake him received criticism from fans on social media. The race proved to be challenging for Mercedes, as their qualifying performance was underwhelming, with Hamilton and Russell starting in P7 and P9 respectively. The situation worsened during the race, and Hamilton explained his controversial decision.
On team radio, Hamilton suggested that Russell should pass him. This sparked scrutiny from fans online. The seven-time world champion acknowledged that the hard tires posed a challenge for both Mercedes cars. Additionally, Hamilton revealed that his car sustained damage after making contact with another driver.
Consequently, Hamilton experienced significant understeer throughout the Grand Prix. This prompted him to make the decision of allowing his teammate to overtake him. However, following the driver swap, Hamilton struggled to keep up with Russell and finished the race in ninth place, while Russell finished in seventh.
Lewis Hamilton admitted that the team couldn’t have done anything more to improve their performance during the weekend. He also mentioned that he wasn’t sure if a different strategy could have been employed instead of using the hard compound tire.
Nevertheless, Hamilton acknowledged that the medium tire performed better than the hard tire. He speculated that if the team had opted for two sets of medium tires instead of two sets of hards, it could have potentially resulted in a better outcome for the Silver Arrows. This decision might have allowed Hamilton to push harder during the race and potentially contend for a podium position.
Lewis Hamilton’s post-race comments highlighted the challenges posed by the hard tires and the superiority of the medium tires. He expressed that in hindsight, it would have been better to have two sets of medium tires. However, he acknowledged the overall poor performance of the car during the race.
Looking ahead, Lewis Hamilton hopes for improved results in the upcoming races. He anticipates that Mercedes will introduce in-season upgrades to enhance their performance. These races will mark the end of Hamilton’s 13-year journey with the Brackley-based team, and he aims to conclude it on a positive note. The next round in China will reveal how things unfold for Hamilton and the Silver Arrows.