Lewis Hamilton spoke on Wednesday in Las Vegas about his radio message after the F1 Brazil GP, as well as the difficulties he’s facing with the W15.
The 105-time race winner had a very tricky race at Interlagos in the wet, conditions he normally thrives in. He finished P10.
Emotions running high
“If this is the last time I get to perform, it was a shame it wasn’t great but (I am) grateful for you,” he stated.
F1’s most successful ever driver admitted that in the heat of the moment, emotions were running high.
Hamilton has three races to go with Mercedes before he heads to Ferrari in 2025.
Projects away from the track helped him get over the disappointment of Brazil as he looks to finish a remarkably successful stint with Mercedes on a high.
“I mean, naturally, in the moment, it didn’t feel great, obviously, that last race.
“But, obviously, I’ve had an amazing last week with lots of really other great projects I’ve been working on, with the F1 movie. There’s a lot of projects that we’re working on.
“I’ve just dropped a collection here with Tyler, the creator. That’s what makes those things important, to get the rebound from difficult weekends like this.
“In the heat of the moment, for sure. I’d much rather be on the beach, chilling. I don’t need to do this.
“But I’m here. I love this job still.
“I’m here to absolutely give it my all for the last few races and finish up strong, and that was always the plan.”
Car control and set-up work
When Hamilton burst on to the scene in 2007 with McLaren, he was renowned for having a very aggressive driving style, with a very loose rear.
Nonetheless, it worked a treat as he was blindingly fast and almost won the title in his rookie season, before going on to do it in 2008.
Over the years he has calmed his driving style down and became elite at tyre management, all while retaining his blistering pace.
Regarding a lack of confidence in the rear in qualifying over the last couple of years, the 39-year-old stated he has no issue with oversteer or a slightly loose rear end.
As Hamilton and Russell have shown recently with spins and accidents, the car is on a knife’s edge generally.
On the set-up, Lewis Hamilton explains how it feels great on the simulator, but the story changes completely once they hit the track with the F1 W15.
“I don’t have a problem with oversteer.
“As you said, from the get-go of my career, it’s never been an issue. Car control is not an issue for me, and the issue is not in my driving.
“I don’t believe it is necessarily a set-up thing. I only know so much. The rest of it, no.
“If the team gives us a car that doesn’t want to throw itself off this weekend, I [can] have a good weekend.
“All I can do is prepare myself the best way I can.
“On the simulator, it doesn’t do that. I drove the sim last week with the set-up that I had worked to put on, that Bono and I, and Mike and I had worked to have.
“It was rapid. The driving was fantastic.
“We just need to work on why that’s not reflecting [on track], particularly on a Saturday.”
