Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have been withdrawn from scheduled media appearances after the Singapore Grand Prix due to “borderline heatstroke”.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said Hamilton, who had complained about his team’s strategy after starting third and finishing sixth, fell ill immediately after the 62-lap race.
Russell was also deemed unfit to carry out media duties. Employing a different strategy to Hamilton, the 26-year-old started one place behind his teammate but led the way and crossed the finish line in fourth place.
Media duty is compulsory for all drivers, but Mercedes contacted the FIA immediately after the race to request medical exemptions for both drivers, on the advice of their team doctor.
The race in the city-state is considered one of the toughest on the calendar because of the humidity, but the other 18 drivers on the grid managed to complete the press call. Lando Norris, who won from pole position, complained of dizziness after climbing out of his McLaren’s cockpit.
Irish Independent
Motor sport
“We had doctors with them” – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell suffer from the “thermal border” in the GP of Singapore
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell did not visit media functions after the Singapore Grand Prix (David Davis / PA)
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell did not visit media functions after the Singapore Grand Prix (David Davis / PA)
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were both withdrawn from their planned media, were deposited after the Grand Singapore with a limited heat stroke.
Mercedes team director Toto Wolf said Hamilton, who complained about his team’s strategy after starting third place and took sixth place, fell ill after the race for 62 circles. Russell was also deemed unfit to perform his duties as a member of the media.
The 26-year-old, adopting a different strategy to Hamilton, started one place behind his team-mate but crossed the line in fourth.
Media duties are mandatory for all drivers. However, Mercedes contacted the FIA immediately after the race to request a medical exemption for both drivers on the advice of team doctors.
The race in the city-state is considered one of the toughest on the calendar because of the humidity, but the other 18 drivers on the grid managed to complete the press call.
Lando Norris, who won from pole position, complained of dizziness after climbing out of his McLaren’s cockpit. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton finished sixth in the Singapore Grand Prix (Pool Photo via Mohd Rasfan/AP)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton finished sixth in the Singapore Grand Prix (Pool Photo via Mohd Rasfan/AP)
“They weren’t feeling well, on the verge of heat stroke or something, but they had water,” Wolff said, explaining the pilots’ absence.
“They couldn’t get close to the [TV/print] pen.” There were no bad feelings or annoyances, the doctors were just there with us. But we’re all fine.”
A Mercedes spokesman added: “Unfortunately, neither George nor Lewis will be attending this evening’s press conference as they recover from the strain of today’s race.”
Hamilton was later quoted in a Mercedes press release: “It’s hard to explain the range of emotions you feel when you’ve been through such a difficult race,” he said. This year continues to be a challenge for everyone, but we are all doing our best.
We don’t always get it right, and that was the case with our strategy today. They weren’t feeling well, on the verge of heat stroke or something, but they had water. We all get to the weekend and every decision we make is made with the right intentions, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. It may be frustrating, but we’re all in this together. »
With six races still to go for Mercedes before heading to Ferrari, Hamilton was the only likely candidate to start on the soft tyres, and the seven-time world champion, making his 350th career start, switched to hard tyres on lap 17, dropping him to 13th place.
But the 39-year-old, who crashed into the wall on his way to the pit lane, was quick to express his disappointment at the decision. “There’s going to be problems later,” he said over the radio. “I’m already struggling with these tyres… You’re going to kill me with this offset (strategy), mate.” Moments later, Hamilton ran off the road while trying to overtake Yuki Tsunoda.
Hamilton returned to the radio. He said something really doesn’t go to the car. ” Wolf noticed and had his head behind the garage.
To deteriorate to Hamilton, Russell was the only quarter tire in the 30th circle and was ahead of him.
Hamilton outpaced Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc on the final stage, finishing 85 seconds behind Norris and 21 seconds behind Russell. He is sixth in the standings, 19 points clear of his British team-mate ahead of the next round in Austin, Texas on October 20.