Lewis Hamilton has instructed he would relatively “take a vacation” than drive his Mercedes for the remainder of the 2024 Components One season after a vastly disappointing Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion earned only one level from the Dash weekend – by advantage of ending 10th in Sunday's race at Interlagos – after exiting each qualifying classes early.
Hamilton's end result on Sunday was made to look even worse by the efficiency of his teammate George Russell, who certified second and seemed to have a powerful likelihood of victory earlier than dropping the lead in a questionable pit cease by Silver Arrows.
“We have been simply sluggish,” Hamilton mentioned Sky Sports activities F1. “The automobile was very, very onerous.
“The staff may nonetheless have received right this moment, so at the least one automobile was behaving significantly better.”
Hamilton was left pissed off after ending 10th in his Mercedes on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Hamilton now has simply three races left with Mercedes earlier than transferring to Ferrari subsequent season, with emotional scenes anticipated because the 12-year partnership involves an finish.
It was due to this fact considerably stunning to listen to a dejected Hamilton admit he has little want to proceed driving the W15 on the remaining races in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
“It's like a plank of wooden. It's like, no suspension,” he added.
“It skips tires everywhere and you’ll't get energy anyplace. It's simply the worst race, I feel the worst race I've ever had, particularly via the corners. It's so stiff.
“However let's hope we don't have any extra damaged items. I feel the final three aren't that damaged. However yeah, I may fortunately go and take a vacation.”
'Best honor of my profession' – Hamilton emotional at Senna automobile race
Whereas he might have endured one of many hardest weekends of his profession, Hamilton may at the least take one treasured reminiscence away from Interlagos this 12 months after driving one in all his hero Ayrton Senna's outdated McLarens forward of the race on the legendary Brazilian's residence monitor. .
Hamilton, who has a particular affinity with Brazil and was awarded the nation's honorary citizenship in 2022, has pushed the McLaren MP4/5B since 1990 – the 12 months Senna received the second of his three world titles.
“It's very, very emotional, in fact,” Hamilton mentioned after receiving a standing ovation from the group.
Forward of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton drove Ayrton Senna's 1990 championship-winning McLaren MP4/5B in tribute to the F1 legend.
“I used to be reliving my childhood whereas watching [Ayrton] race right here once I was a child. Listening to that sound and … watching him drive right here, profitable that race, I simply couldn't imagine I had the possibility to try this and it was actually the most important honor of my profession.
“To do it right here in entrance of this lovely crowd right here in Brazil, who stood out within the rain all day yesterday after which they've been right here since four within the morning or three within the morning.
“A really, very big day.”
Components 1 returns after a three-week break with the Las Vegas Grand Prix from November 22-24, reside on Sky Sports activities F1. Get Sky Sports activities F1 to look at each race and extra