Lewis Hamilton's frustration boils over at Japanese Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton's disappointment after a difficult Japanese Grand Prix was evident as he snapped at a reporter for an ill-timed question about his potential 2025 move to Ferrari.
Race overview
Starting from seventh on the grid, Lewis Hamilton's hopes of a strong result at the Japanese Grand Prix were quickly dampened.
The seven-time world champion could only manage a ninth-place finish, trailing his teammate George Russell, who crossed the line seventh.
Mercedes struggles
Mercedes attempted a one-stop strategy after the race restart, but Hamilton soon found himself passed by Lando Norris, Sergio Perez, and Carlos Sainz in quick succession.
Recognizing the need for a change, Hamilton requested Mercedes to "change the strategy," ultimately opting for a two-stop approach.
Post-race frustration
Hamilton's disappointment was palpable in the post-race media interactions.
When a reporter inquired about his potential 2025 move to Ferrari, implying the Italian team's superiority, Hamilton tersely responded,
"Do you have any better questions?"
before abruptly walking out.
Technical challenges
Hamilton acknowledged the technical difficulties he encountered during the race, attributing his early struggles to potential damage sustained in an incident with Charles Leclerc.
"I had huge understeering for the first stint, I couldn't turn the car through the corners,"
he explained.
Despite Mercedes' attempts at strategic adjustments, Hamilton conceded that their efforts were unlikely to yield significant gains.
"Nothing, I don't think,"
he said when asked about alternative strategies, adding,
"We still had two really terrible hard tyres to run through. A real challenge today."
In a candid assessment of the W15's performance at Suzuka, Hamilton acknowledged the car's deficiencies, describing it as "pretty bad" on the day.
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