Lewis Hamilton had to settle for P9 after starting the Brazilian Grand Prix at the back of the grid.
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari engineers did not inform him of the wet track conditions before the spin that almost ended his Brazilian Grand Prix. The Brit endured a tumultuous weekend after being handed a 75-place grid penalty and participating in a crisis meeting with team-mate Charles Leclerc. Hamilton started at the back of the grid in 20th after being forced to make multiple power-unit changes but made an aggressive start after lights out.
The seven-time world champion surged into ninth on the opening laps and ultimately crossed the line in that same position, securing two championship points from a dire situation. However, late in the race, the rain that had disrupted qualifying returned with a vengeance.
Hamilton, who was on softs, was told by Ferrari to box on Lap 63 as the weather worsened. Eventual race winner Lando Norris and runner-up Max Verstappen dived into the pits to switch to intermediate tyres. But Hamilton stayed out to attack Liam Lawson ahead of him and was shocked when he arrived at Turn 1 to see the track drenched.
On the soft tyres, he nursed his car through the lap but ultimately spun ascending the hill out of Junção, just avoiding the barriers. Luckily for the 41-year-old, he managed to recover the car, spin back around and come into the pits once Lap 63 ended. He quickly switched to inters and eventually finished the race in P9, with the spin costing him time.
However, speaking after the race, Hamilton appeared to suggest that Ferrari’s engineers were to blame for the near-catastrophic error, as they did not inform him of the dramatic change in the weather.
“It was so gutting, honestly,” Hamilton said. “In those greasy conditions, I was quicker than Lawson. I was catching him by a second a lap, and they said [on] the previous lap, ‘It’s going to stay consistent like this.’
“I was like, ‘Okay, I can stay out in this.’ Just before the pit entry, they said ‘box, box,’ and I was just behind Lawson, so I just pressed overtake. I thought the conditions were staying the same. So I was like, ‘Okay, I’m not going to stop this now, I’m good.’ I get to Turn 1 and it’s drenched, so I didn’t get that information. We were unfortunate with that.”
Ferrari had a disappointing Brazilian Grand Prix, with Leclerc in P8 after he was hit with a 10-place grid penalty and a five-second time penalty and Hamilton in P9. But the event at least gave both drivers the chance to clear the air.
Tension escalated between the two teammates at the Mexican Grand Prix the previous weekend. During the opening lap, Leclerc attempted to overtake Hamilton around the outside of Turn 4 but caused both to run wide.
Ferrari had eyes on a one-two finish after Hamilton qualified on pole, but he had to settle for P2 after Verstappen passed him during the battle with Leclerc. The Monegasque finished P4.
Hamilton was reportedly furious after the race and called for a clearer rules-of-engagement policy – something he was familiar with during his time battling Nico Rosberg for Mercedes. Ahead of Brazil, team boss Fred Vasseur organised a team crisis meeting. Hamilton has shed light on what was said.
“Everything’s good,” said Hamilton. “Fred brought us together, and Fred was great in the meeting, and then he just left me and Charles to just give our points, and we both had a really good open discussion. It’s all good, we’ll just move on.”