Hamilton is 1-7 behind in the qualifying match with Russell. In an interview he passively aggressively suggests that Mercedes is using favoritism to give Russell the advantage.
Lewis Hamilton will leave the Mercedes team after this season and the hairline cracks in the mutual relationship are becoming increasingly clear. The team that guided HAM to six of its seven titles has been performing less well for several years. The seven-time champion has not won in two years. However, in the previous two years he was still very much in line with, if not better than, teammate Russell. The qualifying match ended in 2023 at 11-11 and Hamilton scored more points. But to make matters worse, the picture is very different this year. In terms of points it is not too bad (9 more for Russell), but Hamilton is now 1-7 behind in the qualifying match.
This is seriously gnawing at Hamilton, as it became apparent yesterday in an interview after qualifying with Sky Sports F1. As usual, Hamilton does not say this literally. But the good listener hears clearly what the best man means. In that respect, it is a bit reminiscent of, for example, that time when Hamilton ‘asked’ the FIA ​​whether you should not screw your steering wheel back on the car if you fail. That was after his competitor Vettel had failed to do so a race earlier. Good peer Romain Grosjean immediately identified it as scary and then ‘asked’ whether drivers should not keep their seat belts on at all times. Something Hamilton regularly did not do after races.
This time, HAM says he ‘doesn’t expect to beat Russell in the qualifiers this year’. He talks about the fact that the team also gave Russell the only new front wing this weekend. But then suggests that he now expects that he will certainly lose two tenths in qualifying compared to the free practice sessions. For reasons that are ‘not clear’ to him. When the reporter asks why HAM thinks it cannot threaten RUS in the qualifications all year, LH44 shrugs with a wry smile and says ‘we’ll see’.
It could therefore be that Hamilton is heading for an Alonsoesque exit at Mercedes. It’s actually a shame after a period of so much ridiculous success. But yes, everyone’s favorite Senna did not leave well at McLaren in 1993. This is part of being an extreme multiple winner. Or can you just be good without such an ‘edge’?
