Lewis Hamilton admitted he’s eager to end what he describes as a ‘terrible’ Formula 1 season, following a frustrating 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 3.
The Mercedes driver has faced a challenging run recently and it was no different in Interlagos as the 39-year-old struggled with his Silver Arrow’s balance throughout the weekend, leading to a 10th-place finish after starting from a disappointing 16th on the grid.
And whilst he managed to recover to the points in the race, it was not what he wanted out of the weekend as he found himself battling not just rival cars but his own vehicle, which seemed unpredictable and with a poor ride quality too.
“Yesterday was terrible, today was terrible,” Hamilton told the press, including Total-Motorsport.com, eager to end the season. “Yesterday was bad, qualifying was bad, the Sprint race was bad.
“The car’s just been bad all weekend. You tell me [of the car’s problems]. That’s the million-dollar question. If you can find it, I’ll give you a million dollars.”
Mercedes has faced several challenges since introducing an upgrade package at the United States GP in October, which has yet to deliver the improvements they had hoped for as they continue to trend downwards on form.
The team initially showed promise earlier in the season, claiming three race wins before the summer break. However, momentum faltered significantly in the second half, with Hamilton securing just one podium finish in the last seven races.
In fact, it’s not just a loss of pace over one lap or in the races either. The car’s handling has become even more unpredictable, causing the Brit to dub the W15, “the worst car I’ve ever driven.”
So the disappointing results have led to the 105-time winner to refocus his priorities, and he admits he’s now simply aiming to finish out the season without further setbacks, as he prepares to join Ferrari in 2025.
“I just put my focus on something else,” Hamilton added. “I’m not fighting for the championship, it doesn’t really matter where we finish in the championship.
“I don’t care if I finish ahead of George [Russell] or behind George, it doesn’t make that big of a difference to me. I just want to keep the car out the wall and try to score points if I can for the team.
“If I can finish well and they give me a car that doesn’t bounce off the track in the next few races, then hopefully we get a better result. Looking forward to Christmas.”
Finding Silver Linings in a Tough Weekend
Despite the difficulties on track, Hamilton found a small but significant highlight before the race: a chance to drive Ayrton Senna‘s legendary 1990 McLaren around the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in the three-time champion’s home city of Sao Paulo.
Taking the 34-year-old car for a spin, the Brit even joked that it was better than his own 2024 car and jested he wanted to take it for a win, before later reflecting on the historic moment which earned the adoration of the local fans.
“Well the race was c**p, but driving Senna‘s car was the best thing ever,” Hamilton added. “So, I’m still happy and grateful that I had that experience here in Interlagos.
“An amazing reception from the fans. They’ve been incredible this weekend. The fans turned up, I think, at 3 am this morning.
“So, unbelievable commitment from the fans here this weekend. Let’s not talk about the car, because you know the car is no good.”
With the finish line for 2024 now within sight, Hamilton is keen to close this season’s chapter and reset for a fresh start in 2025, looking forward to more competitive drives and fewer struggles on track.
