Lewis Hamilton has admitted he wanted to quit Mercedes after a dire showing at the Brazilian Grand Prix. The F1 great, 39, suffered a disappointing race at Interlagos, finishing 10th, and openly expressed his frustration over the team radio: “That was a disaster of a weekend, guys.
“The worst the car has ever been. Thank you for contributing to try and great job to all the guys at the pit-stop. If this is the last time I get to perform it was a shame it wasn’t great but (I am) grateful for you.”
Ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, when asked about his comments, Hamilton confessed: “In the moment that’s how I felt, like I didn’t really want to come back after that weekend.
“In the heat of the moment, for sure, I would much rather be on the beach and chilling and I don’t need to do this. But I’m here, I love this job, and I’m going to give it my all in these last few races and finish strong. That was always the plan.”
Despite trailing 50 seconds behind Max Verstappen, who clinched victory while beginning behind him, and 27 seconds from team-mate George Russell in Brazil, Hamilton insists he will strive to conclude his 12-year tenure with Mercedes on a high note before his upcoming move to Ferrari.
Having broken a lengthy winless stretch with a triumph at the British Grand Prix in July, he currently sits seventh in the championship standings, 203 points adrift of leader Verstappen, and trails just behind Russell by a slender two points.
Hamilton added to Sky Sports after his Sao Paolo struggles: “Honestly, I feel in the best place I’ve been all year mentally, and considering how bad the last race was, I think that says enough.
“I’ve been around this game for a long time. There’s been so many things that are said about me. There’s been so many micro-aggressions – obviously not from my boss (Toto Wolff) because he’s been supportive over all these years and we’ve achieved a lot together – but I mean in general, within the media and through it all, and nothing can take me down.
“I’m still here, still fighting and I’m going to continue to push. I’ve got a team that I genuinely still love, and even though I am leaving, I want to make sure I give them the best I can in these next races. If they provide a car that wants to stay on track then hopefully we’ll have a better result.”
