Lewis Hamilton makes feelings clear to Mercedes as FIA issue damning report
Max Verstappen stormed to yet another Formula One victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Red Bull ace held off McLaren’s Lando Norris to seal a remarkable 17th win of the 2023 season.
Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez was beaten to the podium by Fernando Alonso in yet another disappointing race for the Mexican. Perez was keen to avenge his early exit from his home race last weekend but was unable to support Verstappen to the finish line.
It was also an underwhelming weekend for Mercedes. George Russell won in Brazil last year but failed to finish this time around, while Lewis Hamilton came eighth – and made his feelings clear on his car afterwards. However, the race was somewhat overshadowed by safety breaches with the the FIA now set to launch an investigation.
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Russell slams ‘weakest’ Mercedes performance
George Russell was left confused by Mercedes’ woes in Brazil.
An underwhelming sprint race display was followed by a horror show in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Russell was forced out by a mechanical issue while Lewis Hamilton came eighth.
The 25-year-old secured his maiden Grand Prix triumph in Brazil last year, with Hamilton coming second.
But Russell has described Mercedes’ performance this year as their ‘weakest’ of 2023.
“Clearly we got something wrong this weekend, still we’re not too sure what that is as yet, but the pace just hadn’t been there,” Russell said to Sky Sports F1. “We thought yesterday may have been a one off, but clearly it wasn’t, so we need to regroup and try to understand it.
“Twelve months ago this was our strongest race of the year, 12 months later it’s by far our weakest race of the year, so very strange. The car was just slow this weekend. The tyres were sliding around and I think what we were doing was the maximum.
“Something doesn’t quite add up, you just don’t suddenly lose a second’s worth of performance and go from a podium fighting car to just fighting for points. We really need to sit down and understand, but clearly a massive one off this week.”
FIA’s damning report
The FIA has ordered the Brazilian Grand Prix promoter to present steps for improvement after supporters made their way onto the track while Sunday’s race was still active.
A supporter invasion occurred at Turn 1 while there were still cars on the track.
“A large group of spectators managed to break the security lines and accessed the run off area at Turn 1 while the race was finishing and cars were still on track,” the FIA said.
A similar incident occurred at the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year.
The promoter was asked to present satisfactory steps to ensure the incident does not happen again. Brazilian GP chiefs are expected to be asked to do the same after a damning report by the FIA.
Hamilton makes feelings clear
Lewis Hamilton gave a damning response to only having two more races in the W14.
The Mercedes star has struggled to get a consistent performance out of the car this season.
Just when it seemed like the Silver Arrows had turned a corner at the Mexican Grand Prix, with Hamilton coming second, they endured one of their worst weekends of the season in Brazil.
It was put to Hamilton that he only has to drive the car for two more weekends.
“Thank god,” was the seven-time world champion’s brutal response.
He added: “It didn’t feel as disastrous as yesterday. Yesterday when I finished, I literally had no no tyres left, they were worn to zero.
“So I feel like I drove a better race today in terms of managing the tyres to the best of my ability. There’s moments it works and then moments it doesn’t.”
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