Lewis Hamilton sends clear warning to Toto Wolff as George Russell frustrations…read more.
Lewis Hamilton has issued a stark warning to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, following a frustrating Singapore Grand Prix, where the seven-time world champion was left questioning his motivation after a series of strategic missteps by the team. The race exposed the growing tensions between Hamilton and his teammate, George Russell, as the latter’s recent performance added to Hamilton’s dissatisfaction with Mercedes’ strategy.
Hamilton had qualified third for the Singapore GP, outperforming Russell in qualifying for only the fifth time this season. Mercedes adopted an aggressive approach, opting to start Hamilton on the soft compound tyres, while most of the grid chose mediums. The strategy was designed to allow Hamilton to challenge Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who started in second place, in the opening stages of the race. However, Hamilton’s plan faltered as he experienced significant wheelspin at the start, preventing him from mounting a challenge to Verstappen.
As Hamilton’s soft tyres began to degrade rapidly, Mercedes called him into the pits to switch to hard tyres, aiming to complete the race without any further pit stops. Unfortunately, the timing of this decision allowed Russell, along with Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc, to undercut Hamilton during their pit stops. This left Hamilton behind his teammate and other key competitors on the track, further compounding his frustrations.
After Russell rejoined the race ahead of him, Hamilton expressed his frustration over the team radio, delivering a dejected message to his engineer Peter Bonnington, saying, “Sometimes I wonder why I do this.” This was not the first time the British driver voiced his discontent during the race, reflecting the ongoing struggle with Mercedes’ strategy calls throughout the season.
When the race concluded, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff apologized to Hamilton over the radio. “Yeah Lewis, sorry,” Wolff admitted. “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.” While the apology acknowledged the team’s failure, Hamilton’s dissatisfaction remained evident, serving as a clear signal to Wolff that all is not well within the Mercedes camp.
This isn’t the first time Hamilton has found himself frustrated this season. The No. 44 crew has frequently struggled to find the right setup for qualifying, often leaving Hamilton with too much work to do on race day. In several instances, Mercedes has opted for unconventional strategies in an attempt to salvage results, but these decisions have often added more frustration than success.
The growing tension between Hamilton and Mercedes has been compounded by the impressive form of his teammate, George Russell, who has outperformed Hamilton on several occasions this season. Russell’s strong performances have created internal competition within the team, adding to Hamilton’s frustrations, especially when the team’s strategies appear to favor Russell’s position on track.
With only six races remaining in the season, and Ferrari distancing themselves from Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship, there seems to be little left for Mercedes to fight for in terms of silverware. However, both Wolff and Hamilton will be eager to find some positivity in their remaining races together, before their long and successful partnership draws to a close at the end of the season.
The end of the season will also mark a significant transition for Hamilton, who is set to make the switch to Ferrari over the winter. The move signals the end of a 12-year relationship with Mercedes, one that has seen Hamilton achieve seven world championships and countless race victories. However, the frustrations of the current season suggest that both Hamilton and Mercedes are ready for a fresh start, even if the parting is bittersweet.
As Hamilton heads into the final races of his Mercedes career, he will be hoping for a stronger end to the season, even if the team’s title hopes have faded. For now, however, the frustrations of the Singapore GP serve as a reminder of the challenges that have plagued both driver and team throughout a difficult 2024 campaign.
