Lewis Hamilton breaks silence on Singapore GP disaster after skipping…read more.
Lewis Hamilton has shared his thoughts on the difficult Singapore Grand Prix after opting to skip post-race interviews. Both Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate George Russell did not appear for media interviews, with the team citing the need for the drivers to recover after the exhausting race.
The seven-time world champion started the Grand Prix from a strong position in P3, following an impressive qualifying session. Hamilton chose to begin the race on soft tyres, a tactical move aimed at overtaking Lando Norris and Max Verstappen early on. However, his plan didn’t unfold as hoped, and he struggled to gain ground on the pair. His early pit stop for fresh tyres left him disadvantaged in the latter stages of the race, as his tyres were older compared to his rivals. In the end, he finished the race in sixth place, while Russell crossed the line in fourth.
Mercedes released a statement explaining that neither driver would be participating in the usual media pen due to the physical toll of the race. The team stated: “Unfortunately neither George nor Lewis will be attending the media pen this evening as they recover from the exertions from this evening’s race.”
Following the race, Mercedes issued a press release in which Hamilton reflected on the challenges the team faced throughout the weekend. “It is hard to describe the range of emotions you feel when we have a difficult race like that,” Hamilton acknowledged. “This year continues to be a testing one for everyone, but we are all pushing as hard as we can. We don’t always get things right, and that was the case today with our strategy.”
Hamilton was candid about the team’s efforts and acknowledged that not every decision pays off. “We all head into the weekend, and every decision we take, with the right intentions, and sometimes it doesn’t work out. It can be frustrating, but we are all in this together,” he explained.
The 2023 Formula 1 season has been one of highs and lows for Mercedes. After two underwhelming seasons, the team showed signs of resurgence ahead of the summer break, with Russell securing a victory at the Austrian Grand Prix. Hamilton also tasted success with wins at Silverstone and Belgium, marking a turnaround for the team.
However, since the season resumed in late August, Mercedes has struggled to maintain the momentum. Hamilton expressed his frustration with the team’s recent lack of pace, especially compared to the championship leaders. “We have lost some form to the leaders in the past few races, and we’re working hard to figure out why that is,” he admitted.
Despite these setbacks, Hamilton remained optimistic about the future and confident in the team’s ability to bounce back. “We will do what we do best though, and that is to come together as a team, analyse and refocus ahead of Austin. We will head there with energy, drive, and determination,” he stated. Hamilton believes that the upcoming race in Austin represents another opportunity for the team to demonstrate their capabilities. “It’s another opportunity to show what we can do when we get things right and to hopefully take a step forward with the car.”
For Mercedes, the focus now shifts to solving the issues that have plagued them in recent races and finding ways to regain their earlier form. Hamilton’s comments reflect the team’s mindset—one of resilience, hard work, and a determination to get back to winning ways. With just a few races left in the season, Mercedes will be hoping to close the gap to the top teams and finish the year on a high note.
The Singapore Grand Prix may have been a disappointment for Hamilton and Mercedes, but their focus remains on the bigger picture. As the team looks toward Austin, they will be aiming to learn from their struggles in Singapore and put themselves in a stronger position to compete at the front of the grid once again.
