Lewis Hamilton is currently in the last season of his tenure as a Mercedes driver.
Lewis Hamilton does not see the importance of defining where Mercedes are in the pecking order after George Russell referred to them as the “fourth-fastest team”.
Despite Mercedes’ desire to take the lead and challenge the dominant Red Bull team in F1 2024, their ambition remains unfulfilled. Currently, Mercedes, the eight-time Constructors’ champions, find themselves in a comfortable fourth position in the standings without having secured a podium finish.
Lewis Hamilton sees ‘no point, no reason’ to Mercedes fourth-fastest claim
McLaren’s Lando Norris achieved his first-ever victory in his F1 career at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, dealing a rare defeat to Red Bull. Meanwhile, Mercedes had to settle for Hamilton finishing in P6 and Russell in P8, which was their best performance in the race.
Russell’s statement suggested that Mercedes is currently the fourth-fastest team. When Hamilton was questioned about this assessment, he chose not to address it.
When questioned by the media after the Miami GP about Russell’s statement, Hamilton responded by saying, “I’m not sure. I fail to grasp the significance, purpose, or relevance of that.”
“Based on our qualification and current position in the championships, draw your own conclusions.”
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Lewis Hamilton hits unwanted milestone among longest win droughts for World Champions
Although Mercedes were not completely disregarded in Miami, Hamilton was close to surpassing Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz for P5, falling just under two-tenths short. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was only a few seconds ahead.
For the seven-time World Champion, being able to constantly keep these rivals in his sights brought about a remarkable sense of satisfaction.
Hamilton confirmed, “Although I didn’t match the speed of the competitors ahead, I had a satisfying race today by utilizing DRS to maintain my position.”
However, without the assistance of the DRS, it is likely that they would not have been able to gain an advantage. Nonetheless, towards the conclusion, they did begin to distance themselves from the competition.
“Nevertheless, maintaining a certain distance from them brings about an incredibly satisfying sensation. However, I was using a different tire strategy, although not in comparison to Checo, as we both were actually using the same type of tire.”
Having started his Formula 1 journey with McLaren from 2007 to 2012, Hamilton developed a close connection with the Miami GP race-winning team. It was during this stint that he achieved a significant milestone, securing his first World Championship title in 2008.
Hamilton was extremely pleased to see his former team reclaiming the top spot on the podium.
Hamilton expressed his delight in McLaren’s resurgence, stating, “Securing my first victory with McLaren has brought me immense joy. The entire team has executed an exceptional performance, and I am truly thrilled to witness McLaren’s strong presence once again.”
“I have been with them since I was 13 years old, and it brings me so much joy to see them reclaim their position at the top and surpass the Bulls.”
“I have a good understanding of Lando, we have a peaceful relationship. I can relate to the feeling of achieving your first Grand Prix win and how incredibly meaningful it is. Therefore, I am genuinely thrilled and delighted for him.”
Hamilton’s last taste of victory dates back to the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
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