Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has defended Lewis Hamilton for his poor performance at the United States GP. Hamilton was unable to control his car and spun out to the gravel, which made him forfeit the race at Austin. Lewis Hamilton has won at the Circuit of the Americas five times previously.
This season, however, the Brit felt uneasy with the handling of W15 around the track. He qualified P19 after a woeful qualifying session in which he failed to make pace and good lap times. Toto Wolff has since urged his team to look into the specifics of the W15’s configuration in light of Hamilton’s crash.
Wolff has backed the 39-year-old’s abilities, saying that it’s unnatural for him to lose control in the early stages of a race. Lewis Hamilton is not a driver that loses a car like that on lap two of a race, so there is something there that we need to understand. Toto Wolff said (via mercedesamgf1.
com)🇺🇸| Toto Wolff explained Mercedes’ efforts in Austin:“It has been a tough weekend overall here in Austin. We see that there is pace in the car, as was shown on Friday and with George in the race today, but we are still dealing with its inconsistency. That is not something… pic.
twitter. com/fObfIHYlef— This is Formula 1 (@ThisIsFormu1a1) October 21, 2024Hamilton now looks forward to making a redemption in the upcoming races at Mexico and Brazil. He will be keen on notching good results before bidding farewell to the Silver Arrows at the end of 2024.
RELATEDMax Verstappen not going to make life easy for Lando Norris after intense US GP battleLewis Hamilton talks specifics leading to his retirement at the US GPLewis Hamilton is one of the most talented drivers known for his skill and pace at the pinnacle of motorsport. He has retired only 32 times in over 350 race starts since his debut for McLaren in 2007. Lewis Hamilton (via Formula 1)Hamilton explained that the car started bouncing as he entered the turn, which made him lose control of the rear end.
He denied pushing the tires to their limit, which made the incident even more unnatural. Obviously shot up the inside and got up to 12th and at that point it was only the second lap, so I’m not flat out, not pushing particularly – just trying to manage the tyres. The car started bouncing on the way in and then it just lost all load of the rear and just went around on me.
Lewis Hamilton said (via Formula1. com)RELATEDOscar Piastri not ‘completely surprised’ by Ferrari’s stellar 1-2 finish at US GPThe race in Austin was an exciting one, with Ferrari clinching a 1-2 finish for the first time since 2006. The constructors’ title battle now heats up as 48 points separate the top three ahead of the last five races this year.