At the racetrack that distinguished experienced drivers from less experienced ones, the seven-time Formula 1 champion achieved seventh place in qualifying, surpassing his younger teammate George Russell, who secured ninth place.
However, the race result saw Hamilton finish in ninth place, while Russell managed to secure seventh place after a late overtake on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Early in the race, Hamilton had to yield to his teammate due to team orders and struggled with his pace.
During the post-race press conference, Hamilton seemed disheartened and chose not to answer many questions, which could have been improved.
When asked if he felt envious of Ferrari’s current performance, Hamilton simply replied directly: “No.”
When pressed further about his expectations of joining the Italian team, the British driver responded shortly: “Do you have a better question? Sorry.”
With that, Hamilton concluded his brief interaction with the media after the race. However, in the Mercedes race report, he reflected on his performance and revealed that he was driving a damaged W15 car.
“It was a challenging day today,” he admitted. “I gave it my best, but the result was not favorable. Unfortunately, that’s how our car is at the moment.
“I didn’t feel comfortable on the hard tires and suffered some damage during the restart. I experienced significant understeer, especially during the first stint, so I made the decision to let George pass.
“Once we switched to the medium compound, the car started to feel a bit better. The final stint was the only time in the race where I felt like I had good grip.
“We need to keep working hard because today our pace was probably only enough for sixth place. If we want to move up the grid, we need to improve the car’s performance,” concluded Hamilton.
Russell survived a late collision with Piastri to secure seventh place, further proving that he is prone to incidents in tight racing situations. Both drivers were summoned to the stewards, with McLaren accusing Russell of forcing Piastri off track. However, the stewards deemed it a racing incident.
After the race, Russell commented: “We made progress today, which is positive. Starting on the hard tires after the red flag gave us flexibility to choose between a one-stop or two-stop strategy. In the end, we opted for the two-stop strategy as the one-stop was not effective. Although the first stint was challenging, our pace improved after the first stop and we were competitive compared to those ahead.”
The race became exciting towards the end, with Russell acknowledging the contact with Piastri as a racing incident. He expressed his satisfaction in securing the position, stating: “It’s always more fun to be on the attack than on the defense.”
Russell emphasized the importance of qualifying, especially for the four teams behind Red Bull. He believes that starting ahead will likely result in finishing ahead of that group. Looking ahead, he recognized the need for improvement within the team and expressed hope that the next race in China will be more suitable for them.
The head of the Mercedes team, Toto Wolff, initially planned to skip the Japanese GP, but ended up changing his mind. Reflecting on the weekend in Suzuka, he admitted it was a challenging race. Although the second and third sectors showed a similar competitive pace to those fighting for the podium, a poor first sector hindered his overall performance. Wolff highlighted the decision to restart with hard tires as the correct one, but his pace dropped significantly during the race, making a one-stop strategy unfeasible.
Despite the disappointing results, Wolff found positive aspects in the weekend’s performance. He recognized the need for improvements at all circuits and emphasized the importance of continuous hard work. Wolff concluded by expressing his excitement for the return to China after a long absence on the calendar.
Mercedes currently sits in fourth place in the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship, with 34 points. They are behind their power unit customers, McLaren, in third with 69 points, and Aston Martin, just one point behind, in fifth.
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Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo scored an incredible goal during yesterday’s match. The Portuguese player once again showed why he is considered one of the best in the world, with a spectacular play that left the fans in ecstasy.
The match was intense from the start, with both teams showing a good performance. However, it was Ronaldo who shone on the field, with his skill and precision. At the 30th minute of the second half, he received a perfect pass and, with a powerful shot, sent the ball into the back of the net.
The crowd went wild with the goal and didn’t spare compliments to the player. On social media, fans from all over the world celebrated Ronaldo’s achievement, highlighting his genius and talent. With this goal, the player once again showed why he is considered a football legend.
After the game, Ronaldo gave an interview where he talked about the goal and the importance of the victory for the team. He emphasized teamwork and the dedication of all players, stressing the importance of continuing to fight until the end.
With this victory, Ronaldo’s team remains at the top of the league, with great chances of winning the title. The fans are confident and believe that the player will continue to shine in the upcoming games.
The team’s next challenge will be against a tough rival, but Ronaldo is determined to lead his team to victory. With his skill and dedication, the player has everything to stand out once again and secure another win for his team.
Fans are eager to see what the Portuguese star will be able to do in the next game. With his genius and talent, Ronaldo continues to surprise everyone and prove why he is considered one of the best players of all time.
Follow all the thrills of the next game and cheer for Ronaldo’s team. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the star in action and cheer for his incredible plays. Stay tuned and don’t miss any moment of this exciting match.
