Perché ha lasciato passare Russell così facilmente?

(Motorsport-Total.com) – “Should I let George pass?” With this radio message, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton surprised everyone at the 2024 Japan Grand Prix in Suzuka. It is not common for a driver to voluntarily swap positions with their teammate.

What motivated Hamilton to make this “offer” to George Russell, especially after twelve laps? Hamilton explains: “I had picked up some damage to the car when Charles [Leclerc] passed me on the outside at the beginning. That’s why I had massive oversteer in the first stint. I could hardly turn the car into any corner. That’s why I let George pass.”

Mercedes accepted Hamilton’s offer and instructed Russell accordingly: “Lewis will let you pass. He is struggling with understeer in his car,” the team radioed to Russell. And to Hamilton: “Just let us know if the swap happens before Turn 16 or before Turn 1.” Hamilton eventually decided on Turn 16, the braking zone before the chicane at the end of the lap.

40 laps later, Hamilton crossed the finish line in P9, just 2.6 seconds behind Russell in P7. Mercedes scored points with both cars but fell short of their own expectations in Japan.

Wrong tire choice at Mercedes?

Hamilton also blames his team’s tire choice. Mercedes initially sent their drivers out on medium tires but switched to hard tires during the red flag right at the start. Hamilton struggled with this decision, stating that the “two really terrible hard tire sets” were “really challenging” for him.

“The hard tires were pretty bad for us. The medium tires were better,” says Hamilton. “In hindsight, we would have been better off with medium tires twice. I don’t know what the alternative strategy would have looked like, whether we would have stayed on medium [after the restart]. The car was pretty bad on Sunday.”

Hamilton isn’t eager to talk about Ferrari

After the Grand Prix, Hamilton was visibly frustrated and gave short answers in his media interviews. When asked about his performance on track, Hamilton simply replied, “Okay.”

When the journalist changed the subject and brought up Ferrari’s current form, Hamilton, who will be joining Ferrari in the future, lost his patience:

Question: “Are you currently envious of Ferrari?”
Hamilton: “No.”

Question: “Are you looking forward to switching to Ferrari in 2025 because Ferrari is better?”
Hamilton: “Don’t you have better questions?”