Hamilton: I want painful season to end
ONE step forward, two steps back. Welcome to the world of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.
‘Only a couple more races with this car and then it is done, so I will be happy,’ sighed the seven-time world champion after the Brazilian sprint race won by Max Verstappen. ‘This year, I am just counting down the days.’
But it didn’t need Hamilton’s elucidation to capture his predicament. The fact he finished seventh, a Grand Canyon-like 34 seconds off the pace in a dash lasting just 24 laps, was damning in itself.
So much for the upgraded floor that was meant to be the key to a brighter future. It carried him to an illegal runners-up place in Austin two weeks ago and a legitimate one last Sunday in Mexico. And now this shambles.
It’s been a see-saw for two years, and still no answers. Red Bull must be laughing their heads off.
As for the exact problems, Hamilton, who starts today’s 71-lap Sao Paulo Grand Prix from fifth, said: ‘It was a very tough race. We got a good start and then I tried to get the right balance with the wing, I had a lot of understeer, snap oversteer. And the rear tyres dropped off. In the mid-sector, I had huge understeer. We probably got the set-up wrong.’
Which resembled the famous line about the England cricket team. ‘There are only three things wrong… They can’t bat, can’t bowl and can’t field.’
But Hamilton wasn’t finished yet, adding: ‘The car is frustrating. We have one of the draggiest cars. Our floor is not as strong as the Red Bull, so we have to have a really big wing, and we are just slow in the straight. The last couple of races we were excited we were progressing. Then you come to another track, and you have the worst tyre degradation for ages. You just don’t know what to expect.’
Except you do: unpredictability and defeat.
George Russell, in the other Mercedes, finished fourth, 26 seconds back — still more than a second a lap short of what was required.
As for their fellow Briton, Lando Norris, his hopes of victory vanished in the blink of an eye. He started on pole but you-know-who came straight past en route to his fourth sprint victory of the season.
‘I need to review my start,’ admitted Norris, who finished runner-up, 4.2 seconds behind his pal. ‘My initial phase was good. I don’t think I had any wheelspin. But maybe I was too conservative and on the safe side. So things to improve for the grand prix. I’m having a lot of shouldas, couldas, wouldas.’
Norris’s McLaren possessed real pace, which was a surprise to him. On Thursday he had written off all hope of success, reckoning there were too many second and thirdgear corners. The 23-year-old was passed by Russell on the first lap, a strong move down the inside. Four laps later, Norris reasserted himself ahead of the Mercedes.
‘I got caught sleeping with George but the pace was strong after,’ reflected Norris. ‘I tried to go after Max but he was too strong. Overall a strong race, good points.’
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez started and finished third, despite making a poor start. The Mexican, who tussled with both Mercedes early on, can take delight in having extended his lead over Hamilton in their fight for second place in the championship table by four points to 24. Only today’s grand prix and those in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi remain.
Verstappen starts from pole and looks untouchable. For Mercedes, a face-saving improvement is a minimum requirement. As team principal Toto Wolff admitted: ‘This was a bruising day.’ Another one.