‘We don’t always get things right’ – Hamilton and Russell react to ‘frustrating’…read more.
The Singapore Grand Prix proved to be a challenging and frustrating race for Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Both drivers experienced difficulties during the race, ultimately finishing in sixth and fourth place, respectively. Despite a strong qualifying performance, where Mercedes locked out the second row of the grid, the race did not unfold as expected for the team.
Mercedes opted for split strategies between the two drivers. Russell started on the more reliable medium tyres, while Hamilton gambled on a set of softs. This decision backfired, as Hamilton was unable to use the soft tyres to gain an advantage at the start of the race. He found himself stuck behind Lando Norris and Max Verstappen and was forced to pit earlier than planned to switch to the hard compound. His strategy, combined with holding up his teammate in the opening stint, compromised his overall performance.
After his early pit stop, Hamilton’s race became a battle for recovery, with the focus on making his tyres last until the end. He eventually finished in sixth place after being overtaken by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in the closing stages of the race. The lack of pace and inability to stay competitive against rivals proved to be a major source of frustration for the seven-time world champion.
Russell, on the other hand, managed to hold on to his starting position, finishing fourth. Although this was an acceptable result given the challenges, he acknowledged that the team had hoped for more after their impressive qualifying performance. Russell remarked that the McLarens were “in another league” during the race, with Verstappen also proving to have the upper hand in terms of pace.
Reflecting on his performance, Russell noted that the race was both physically and mentally taxing. Describing his cockpit as a “sauna” during the event, he expressed how difficult it was to defend his position, especially from Leclerc, who was closing in towards the final lap. The race was made even more challenging by the absence of a Safety Car, a rarity in Singapore, leaving drivers without any respite throughout the demanding 62-lap race.
Russell admitted that the result, while not ideal, was the best the team could have hoped for given their struggles. He expressed disappointment in the team’s lack of pace but also acknowledged that holding off Leclerc in the final stages was a small victory. It was clear from Russell’s demeanor after the race that the entire event had taken its toll on him, physically and mentally.
Hamilton shared similar sentiments after the race, expressing frustration with the team’s strategy. Starting on the soft tyres turned out to be a mistake, and he admitted that the team “didn’t get things right” on the day. Hamilton has experienced several ups and downs throughout the season, and Singapore added to what he described as a “testing” year for Mercedes. He acknowledged that the team had lost ground to the leaders in recent races and that they were working hard to understand the reasons behind this decline in form.
The Singapore race marked another disappointing outing for Mercedes, who have struggled to replicate their early season success. After winning three of the four races heading into the summer break, Mercedes have managed only one podium finish in the four races since the season resumed. That sole podium, secured by Russell in Azerbaijan, came as a result of a late crash between Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described the race as “painful,” and while the team is expecting upgrades ahead of the next race in Austin, these changes feel like little consolation after another disappointing result. Both drivers and the team are eager to regain their earlier form and continue pushing hard in the remaining races of the season. However, for now, the Singapore Grand Prix serves as a reminder of the difficulties Mercedes continues to face in their quest for consistent success.
