Lewis Hamilton’s cryptic radio message to his team, broadcast only after Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix, has sparked speculation that it could be the 39-year-old’s final drive for Mercedes.
In the message, delivered during Hamilton’s warm-up lap after finishing 10th at Interlagos, the seven-time world champion, who will join Ferrari next season, admitted he had a “disastrous weekend” and described his car as “the worst it has ever been known.”
Hamilton added: “But thank you for continuing to try. Great job from the pitstop guys. If this was the last one, it wouldn’t have been very good, but thank you.”
Mercedes was said to have been surprised by the cryptic message, with the team insisting they have no plans to retire Hamilton for the final triple-header.
One of the possible explanations is that Hamilton carried out the change of Pete cells in the last three races in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
In fact, Hamilton himself suggested that he would end the season with Mercedes when he talked to Motorsport.com after the Sao Paulo race, but he was ready to take a break. I acknowledged it.
“I’m hopeful that I can do better in the next few races if they give me a car that doesn’t go off the track,” he said. “But I’m looking forward to Christmas.”
Given the extraordinary success of both teams, it would be a big surprise if Hamilton ended his relationship with Mercedes so early and on such a low note. One would imagine that Mercedes would give him a dignified farewell in Abu Dhabi.
But Hamilton is in such a depressed state that nothing can frighten him. If he wants to clear his head before moving to Maranello – and in a separate interview with Sky Sports he said he would “love to go to Maranello and take a break” – then perhaps the team will respond and give the money to rookie Kimi Antonelli.
There will be an acclimatisation race before he starts work with the team in 2025. Has Ferrari made the wrong signing? In a cruel twist of fate, Hamilton’s worst weekend in a long time arguably in his entire career – came on the anniversary of his most famous triumph.
Saturday marked 16 years to the day since Hamilton won his first world title with McLaren at Interlagos. The protagonists of this weekend. Hamilton, Felipe Massa, Timo Glock – were all present this year. Of them, only Hamilton is still at the wheel. Some 39 -year -olds believe that seven world champions work in smoke.
However, it is too early to suggest that Ferrari has splashed more than 50 million pounds a year with an exploded flash. Most recently, Hamilton claimed his first Grand Prix victory in 945 days at Silverstone, winning a brilliant and emotional race in front of his home fans, and another win followed at Spa, where Hamilton took over after George Russell was disqualified.
But Hamilton proved he can still do it. And yes, his single-lap pace hasn’t been great this year (Hamilton beat Russell 16-5 in qualifying). But he can clearly still generate runs.
This is a generational talent we’re talking about here. The most successful F1 driver in history.”I’m prone to paranoia.”
Of course, time waits for no one. Is Hamilton slow to respond? Is his courage waning? He clearly had little confidence in the car in the wet and slippery conditions in Brazil – conditions that might have been more favourable in other years.
All valid questions. George Russell’s performance at Interlagos showed what Mercedes can do, but Fernando Alonso remains a good driver even at 40 years old. There is no reason why, if Hamilton feels the love of Ferrari fans, if he feels connected to his car, he cannot rediscover its magic.
Remember, Hamilton and Mercedes went through this season knowing he was out at the end. Despite Mercedes’s remorse and impartiality, the dynamics between the two will shift. Paranoia can easily set in.
In the past, both McLaren and Mercedes have seen how Hamilton is struggling when his heart is not in the right place.
Perhaps his comment, “I need a vacation,” was a scream for help. He is asking to be taken out of the line of fire so he can rest and recharge for next year.
Hamilton knows his performance relative to Charles Leclerc will be scrutinised in the early races. He’ll have to get to work quickly, but it’s too early to rule it out. Hamilton has gained the right to prove that he can still do so.
