Lewis Hamilton and George Russell skip Sky F1 interviews as Mercedes release…read more.
After the Singapore Grand Prix, Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell declined to participate in post-race interviews with Sky Sports F1. The decision came after a physically demanding race in the intense heat, which saw McLaren’s Lando Norris claim a commanding victory, followed by Max Verstappen. Mercedes finished the race with Russell in fourth and Hamilton in sixth, leaving the seven-time world champion frustrated with the team’s strategy decisions.
In a statement released by Mercedes, the team explained that Hamilton and Russell would not be giving any media interviews, citing the need for recovery after the grueling 62-lap race on the Marina Bay Street Circuit. “Unfortunately, neither George nor Lewis will be attending the media pen this evening as they recover from the exertions of this evening’s race,” a Mercedes spokesperson said. The Marina Bay race is widely regarded as one of the most physically challenging events of the season, with the sweltering conditions adding to the difficulty.
The race itself was not without drama for Mercedes. Hamilton, who had been running in third place, was visibly upset with the team’s decision to pit him on lap 18, switching him from hard to soft tyres. The change in strategy saw him fall back through the order, and Hamilton was quick to voice his frustrations over the team radio. “Something’s definitely wrong with the car, mate,” he told his race engineer Peter Bonnington. “Tyres are dropping off.”
As the race progressed, Hamilton’s frustrations grew. After being overtaken by his teammate George Russell, he told his engineer, “You’re killing me with this offset, mate,” indicating that the strategy had compromised his performance. His frustration was compounded by the fact that the decision to pit early had left him unable to challenge for a podium finish.
The team acknowledged their missteps over the radio, with team principal Toto Wolff apologizing to Hamilton: “Yeah Lewis, sorry. We gave you a car that was just not good enough here and obviously, we read the race wrong, but it wouldn’t have made a difference. We were just slow today.” Wolff’s admission reflected Mercedes’ overall struggles during the race, as the team struggled to keep up with the pace of the leading cars.
Hamilton’s disappointment was evident throughout the race, as he had started from a strong position but gradually slipped down the order. After the race, both Hamilton and Russell opted to skip their usual post-race interviews with Sky Sports F1. Fans eager to hear their thoughts had to wait for Mercedes to release their own in-house interviews on social media.
At the time of writing, Mercedes had posted a brief statement on their X (formerly Twitter) account, acknowledging the difficult race: “A tough evening under the lights here in Singapore.” While the team’s social media account was relatively quiet following the race, fans were left wondering how Hamilton and Russell would respond to the challenges they faced during the event.
Hamilton’s dissatisfaction with the team’s strategy was not the only talking point of the race. McLaren’s Lando Norris delivered a stellar performance, comfortably taking the victory ahead of Max Verstappen. The result further dented Verstappen’s lead in the championship standings, making the race significant for the title battle as well.
For Mercedes, the Singapore Grand Prix highlighted the team’s ongoing struggle to match the performance of their rivals. Despite a strong start from Hamilton, the strategy misstep ultimately cost the team valuable points, leaving both drivers frustrated. While Russell managed to finish in fourth place, his performance was overshadowed by Hamilton’s radio outbursts and the team’s overall strategic misjudgment.
The decision by both Hamilton and Russell to avoid the media after the race was unusual but perhaps understandable given the demanding conditions. The sweltering heat of Singapore combined with the disappointment of the result likely left the drivers eager to recover and regroup before the next race. Mercedes will now be looking ahead, hoping to learn from their mistakes and deliver a stronger performance in the races to come.
