Lewis Hamilton offers his verdict on Azerbaijan Grand Prix as George Russell secures victory
Lewis Hamilton has provided his candid assessment of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where George Russell emerged victorious, solidifying his position in the race for the championship, reports BritPanorama.
Hamilton finished in sixth place, trailing Russell by 22 seconds. This result allowed Russell to narrow the gap to Kimi Antonelli in the Drivers’ Championship standings.
The British driver described his race as “pretty bad,” struggling to progress from his starting position. “I mean, it just didn’t really go anywhere. I couldn’t keep up with the guys ahead, and I was struggling to keep the guys behind. Just lacking pace today,” he stated to Sky Sports.
Hamilton remarked that he had difficulties getting the tyres to perform optimally throughout the practice sessions and qualifying. “I weaved, and weaved, and weaved, and the tyres just wouldn’t switch on. In the race, I think probably at the end of the first stint, the tyres all of a sudden started to like switch on and start working,” he explained. However, after switching tyres, he encountered further issues, saying, “Then we switched to the next tyre, and it wouldn’t switch on [until the end] of the race, so I was just sliding around.”
On the subject of Ferrari’s challenges, amid speculation regarding Christian Horner’s potential role with the team, Hamilton expressed support for team principal Fred Vasseur, emphasizing that Ferrari needs to “keep trying.” Meanwhile, Mercedes continued to shine, with Russell clinching his third victory of the season by narrowly defeating Max Verstappen.
In a light-hearted moment, Russell addressed teammate Antonelli, who finished in fifth place, stating, “The pressure is all on you.” Antonelli, who had previously secured an impressive victory from 19th at Monza, acknowledged that maintaining a cautious approach in Azerbaijan was essential for points collection, saying, “I was driving a bit like my grandmother today.”
Reflecting on his performance, Russell stated, “I never lost that faith in myself… I feel I can fight for victory week in, week out.” His determination highlights the evolving nature of this competitive season, as he prepares for the upcoming races.
This race serves as a reminder of the inherent unpredictability in Formula 1, showing how quickly fortunes can shift and setting the stage for an exciting championship battle ahead.
