© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
Lewis Hamilton talks about the difficulties Mercedes faced during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend and his Lap 48 incident with Max Verstappen.
Everything was stacked against Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend. After he qualified in P1 for the Sprint Race, he got disqualified due to a DRS rules breach, in what was a dubious decision by the FIA.
He then overcame this and went from P20 to P5 in the Sprint Race. However, he still had to serve a five-place grid penalty in the main race due to an engine swap.
This did not stop him, and he went from P10 to P1 on Sunday, and beat his title rival Max Verstappen on the track. Lewis admits this has turned out to be “probably one of the best weekends”.
“I don’t remember another weekend like this,” the Briton said.
“The last time I remember having something like this was in Formula 3 in Bahrain, the first race we had in Bahrain, and McLaren cancelled or ripped up my contract and I remember I was racing for my life that weekend.
“Did I think we could come from last? I don’t know what was possible, but I just gave it everything and this has definitely been probably one of the best weekends, if not the best weekend I have experienced in probably my whole career“.
And Lewis faced even more adversity when he went wheel to wheel with Max Verstappen at Turn 4 on Lap 48 of the race.
If you like SilverArrows.Net, consider supporting us by buying us a coffee!
The Dutch driver obviously intentionally pushed Lewis wide and off the track, and although the incident was being looked at by the stewards, they later decided that no action was necessary.
The Briton explains how he views the incident.
“In the heat of the moment, I don’t really know. I think I was ahead initially, and then I think he held his ground and then we both ran out of road. Well, I think he was running out of road, so then I obviously had to avoid running out of road.
“I didn’t think too much of it – obviously I have to watch the reply – but I mean, it’s hard battling and I wouldn’t expect anything else, really. We didn’t touch wheels, which was good.”
Ultimately Lewis says Mercedes needed a result such as this to boost their title hopes.
“Coming here 19 points behind, only one point ahead in the teams’ championship, we really needed a solid, solid result, but then obviously we had all these penalties.
“Mentally you can just think it’s over, it’s impossible, but then nothing is if you put your mind to it.
“That’s really why we just cultivated a positive mental attitude and went in fighting, guns blazing,” concluded the seven-time champion.
