I’ve seen worse body language from a driver sitting in his own motorhome, but not since 2007, when Fernando Alonso, at the press conference after a fight with his then McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton, in Hungary , he made his way, morosely nibbling on a pear.
But still, Hamilton’s behavior this week (monosyllabic and making some mockery of George Russell) was the inevitable consequence from the moment he told Mercedes he would be with them for life and then dropped the bombshell that he was actually he would move to Ferrari next year.
It was never going to end well. Mercedes would feel despised; Hamilton would succumb to her natural inclination toward paranoia; Russell’s skills would present themselves (he has outscored the seven-time world champion 8-1, a powerful feather to wear in his cap). These factors are behind the discomfort exhibited here just nine races away. And the only way out of this is for Hamilton to take the rest of the season off. Otherwise, resentment will worsen.
Another layer of resentment is correspondence sent by email and a WhatsApp after the last round in Canada, which claims to have been written by a Mercedes employee, arguing that Russell is being dramatically favoured. “Sabotage” was one word used. I can’t see it, although a Hamilton sponsor has told me directly that he believes so.
What is more likely is that the fact that Hamilton decided to flee the nest and embarrassed Wolff by doing so added weight to Russell’s cause. He is the man who stays, part of Mercedes’ future, not her past.
Lewis Hamilton’s behavior this week and the mockery of George Russell were inevitable from the moment he said he was leaving.
Mercedes has contacted police via an anonymous email accusing them of “sabotaging” Lewis Hamilton over the seven-time champion’s decision to switch to Ferrari.
Russell has outscored Hamilton 8-1 and things are getting increasingly uncomfortable
The only way out for Hamilton is to take the rest of the season off, or the resentment will fester.
If this is so, it is not Russell’s fault. He’s driving superbly well, even if he pushed himself slightly over the limit in a valiant effort in Canada (where he overtook Hamilton for third place at the end, yikes!). George has clearly seen the merit of keeping Wolff around, a fact Hamilton has previously criticized.
Russell has also had to overcome the fact that he started the season in a car created with more input from Hamilton than his own, since then the seven-time world champion still had to stay at Mercedes as their GOAT. As one team member told me: ‘He set us back a year. Lewis is not a designer, but everything was made to his specifications.
Naturally, that balance has changed. Lewis is no longer shown the Fort Knox deference he once was.
I think Hamilton should himself express the feelings his fans express in the email and text message, or openly condemn them, whether the sender is from Mercedes, his circle or a random fan. Yes, he said at the testy press conference: “We need support, not negativity,” adding rather implausibly that he was not aware that “George was experiencing negativity.” But he added, “Of course, things can always be done better in the team,” which sounded like a faint echo of the much stronger email.
What Lewis wants to regain is his former position of preeminence. But, bound for Ferrari, it’s too late for that.
What was that that crashed into my feet? Part of the turnstile on the way to the press center at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, a place so run down it’s lucky to be in modern Formula One.
In addition to inadequate facilities to host a world-class sporting event, it often serves as the dirge of a race.
The Circuit de Catalunya is lucky to be in F1: it is not suitable and serves as a race dirge
There are ladders hanging like a trap on the stairs, which increases their carelessness. Overall, the venue (like other European tracks) is stuck in the 1990s, and the sooner the race’s Spanish headquarters moves to Madrid in 2026, the better.
One race in Spain is enough to get other countries inquiring about organizing new grands prix and knocking on Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali’s door.
Lewis Hamilton has urged Silverstone bosses to reduce ticket prices from their initial three-day rate of £339. I guess that’s the going price, even if it’s a drink for a family of four. Still, a combined attendance of 480,000 people was reported last year.
To be fair, Silverstone has improved its facilities in recent years. The roads in and out are as well ordered as any in the world. In addition to judicious lane use at key times, Silverstone has encouraged more people to camp, thereby reducing the daily flow of traffic.
Hamilton has urged Silverstone bosses to lower prices, but his calls were ironic.
Flavio Briatore is Alpine’s new advisor… but he was once banned from F1 for life!
While Hamilton may be right, there is an irony in the fact that his huge salaries of more than £50m – the result of his exploits as a brilliant driver and great negotiator – are derived from the same ecosystem as Silverstone. The public pays; Silverstone pays for F1; F1 pays the teams; teams pay Hamilton et al.
Flavio Briatore is Alpine’s new advisor. That couldn’t be the same Flavio Briatore who was once banned from the sport for life, could it?
