This is Lewis Hamilton’s last season with Mercedes.
A downbeat Lewis Hamilton called his Canadian Grand Prix one of his worst performances in Formula 1, admitting that getting his “head on right” will bring better results.
While team-mate George Russell claimed pole in Canada, Hamilton was left frustrated over his P7 grid slot, though the dynamic wet/dry conditions of race day meant Hamilton was in the hunt for victory at one stage.
Lewis Hamilton laments ‘one of worst races I’ve driven’
However, towards the end, Hamilton experienced a setback as he was overtaken by Russell and slipped back into the competition, ultimately losing the chance for a podium finish. Hamilton acknowledged that in order to achieve better results in the future, he needs to prioritize getting his mindset in the right place.
When questioned by Sky F1 about appearing “very flat” after qualifying and asked about his current emotions after the race, Hamilton replied, “There hasn’t been much change, to be honest.”
“My recent performance over the weekend was extremely disappointing.”
“Yesterday, a few other factors played a role, but ultimately it was mostly my performance that led to one of the worst races I have ever driven. I made numerous mistakes throughout. Admittedly, had I qualified better, my position in the race would have been significantly improved. This is the reality of the situation. I will now reassess and start from scratch to improve my performance.”
I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at the factory for their outstanding efforts in developing this car. It has truly transformed into a vehicle that we can confidently compete with. This positive development serves as a great advantage as we move forward into the next phase of the season.
“We can anticipate a few more upgrades in the pipeline, which will make for an intense competition.”
“If I can align my thoughts properly, I will achieve improved outcomes.”
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After the race, Hamilton wasn’t the lone disappointed Mercedes driver. Russell missed out on a chance to compete with Max Verstappen for the victory by hitting the kerb at Turn 8, resulting in him letting Lando Norris, whom he had recently overtaken, pass him again.
Hamilton is of the opinion that the Mercedes W15 had the potential to win the race this weekend.
He confessed, “I believe the car had the potential to win over the weekend, which is why I am not experiencing a great sense of satisfaction.”
“Nevertheless, we will accept the points and persist in our efforts, always striving forward.”
Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 World Champion, observed that Hamilton’s “very self-critical” attitude during the late-race exchange with Russell was uncommon for the seven-time champion, as Russell emerged as the winner.
“Lewis’s self-critical nature is not typical,” Villeneuve remarked.
However, his teammate emerged victorious, despite his efforts. He recognized his own speed and determined to prove himself. In the end, he achieved the fastest lap of the entire race.
“He seemed to have caught up towards the end on the hard tyres, but then Russell regained his speed in the final two laps.”
Mercedes achieved their inaugural podium of the F1 2024 campaign with Russell’s outstanding third-place finish.
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