Caught a glimpse on Sky tv of part of an interview with Lewis Hamilton which grabbed my attention. His summary of how he will be spending his post race season break conveyed his complete exasperation with the team structure. Sounded very close to ultimatum territory and the first time that I have sensed this season may just be his last in F1/ with Ferrari. Nothing plenty of others haven’t been saying already, but the first time I’ve felt this could be it for LH if negotiations flat line.
Peter
I have speculated on here, & wondered for some time, if he may call it quits after the weekend.
I understand that his current contract runs until the end of next season with an option for the season after that.
With nobody knowing how the new cars will perform, there seems little point in trying to switch teams. Ferrari have as good a chance as any of producing the best car.
If the car is poor & Leclerc consistently out performs him again there won’t be any top team wanting to sign him at any price & I don’t see him wanting to sign for an also ran at a cut price, al a Alonso.
So I would guess he has only two possibilities open to him. Firstly, retirement & secondly, stick with Ferrari & hope the new car is a good ‘un. Or, if it’s not, to out perform his team mate convincingly to show any potential suitors that he’s still ‘got it’.
Increasingly the message portrayed is that Ferrari is an institution whose core places the drivers in a compartment; and their role is to drive. Others within the organisation deal with engineering, strategy, etc. But they appear to work in silos. This seems to have been expressed throughout the season by LH and, increasingly as the season progressed, CL in frustration at the organisation’s failure to take on board the feedback provided by the drivers.
Last weekend may have been an extreme example but commentators and drivers were commenting on how terrible the Ferrari’s were performing. I don’t think this was anything to do with a slightly past it LH. The spin suffered by Charles was frankly shocking - if that had happened on any other track I simply dread to think what the outcome might have been.
From today’s interview, there sounded an element of desperation in LH’s tone and comments - no complacency at all, more a severe concern that the people around him cannot be trusted and need to be changed. In the absence of change, he sounded like history will repeat itself next season. Without such an agreement with the hierarchy in Ferrari, there seemed more than a hint of an ultimatum. Ferrari does not have much of a reputation to bending to the whims of their drivers. Not sure if I picked up his comments correctly but sounded like zero appetite to have a repeat of this season next year and the chances of having a ‘good’un’ are very slim within the current set up. He has blown hot and cold throughout his career, but this interview sounded different.
Peter
Ferrari has a long history of not listening to drivers or even valuing them that much. Under Todt and Brawn, that changed when the team signed and listened to Michael S. Until Fred V can get all the team on board with listening to drivers, working together as a whole team, they are unlikely to win championships. Hamilton knows how to win races and championships, knows how a successful team works, and the benefits of an open no no-blame culture where the focus is learning from mistakes, not blaming. Ferrari team members would be wise to listen to him and not treat him as the idiot behind the wheel. 3 years ago, McLaren was struggling; now look at it, they adopted the Merc no-blame culture, where you learn from mistakes and added their twist to this. Williams has also made use of being financially stable and invested in the important things, got two good drivers who listen to and a team principal who knows how to win, and the team has progressed to the front of the midfield. If Ferrari doesn’t listen to Lewis, support Fred in turning the team around, it will be Williams in the top 4 and them back in the midfield very soon. Alpine is a well-financed team and has shown what happens when there is infighting within the team, senior management from the parent company making terrible decisions and undermining the team management; Ferrari could follow them towards the back of the field if they continue as they are, with the parent company undermining FV and ignoring the drivers.
It does not matter how much of a mess Ferrari is in. Hamilton has been under performing all season.
‘You’re an ex World Champion’.
Lightning has already struck once for him in Abu–Dhabi & I think it’s very unlikely to strike twice.
I think his only realistic chance of retaining his title is for Norris to suffer a mechanical failure.
I believe that Max will win the race & Lando will be on the podium with him, probably on the second step.
It would be amazing if Verstappen won it, but on some level I think it’s good if whoever does also wins the Championship. It somehow feels right that the winner also has the most wins and wins the race in which it happens.
Max has certainly boxed clever in the close out to the season and would make a pretty spectacular story were he to win. I’d like to see Norris come out on top tomorrow. He has had a roller coaster of a season - all top three have! - but I think momentum just about favours him and I’ll support the Brit! Good luck to all three and hope for an entertaining race!!
Peter
“You may remember at the Dutch Grand Prix, BBC Sport met up with Brandon Burgess, the F1 fan who is trying to attend every race this season on a £20,000 budget and using only his 28 days’ annual leave from work.” BBC.
Blimey, that is a challenge.
Quali didn’t throw up anything to put some need for real racing tomorrow.
Max on pole then Lando and Oscar.
This means Lando will be champ if he finishes on the podium regardless of anyone else’s result.
I imagine McLaren will ask Lando to let Oscar past to race Max for the win.
Then if he’s nowhere near give it back to Lando if needed.
As long as Lando can stay ahead of George and no-one at McLaren fks up.
I think Lewis was crushed by 2021 and only hung around in the forlorn hope of an 8th title. He is of course a multi multi multi millionaire and with his outside interests has no reason to stay. So, yes he could walk tomorrow, but as said will probably see if the 26 car is any better. Interesting that Max threatens to walk away which I think he may do in a year or two. Couple that with father time catching up with Alonso means there could be quite a changing of the guard
Lando needs to keep out of trouble tomorrow assuming Max clears off into the distance. Unless something bizzare happens Piastri will play a supporting role as will the two Merc drivers if they need to. Merc will want their engine winning the championship I think. As Murray used to say, “ Anything could happen and it normally does”
Max will probably hold up the entire field as that is his best chance to get Russell, Leclerc and Sainz play a role in the race (pitstop strategies et cetera)…
That is a good point. Don’t think Russell will, but yes.
I’m a little worried Lando will get the yips and blow it. Assume Max will just drive off into the distance so the theory is the two McLarens just cruise round but I don’t think it’s that simple. As said Max could play games to bring George and Charlesinto it
Which is partly why I think they’ll consider sticking Oscar on Max’s bum!
Oscar’s got at least second place to play for and less to lose than Lando, he can afford to be more ‘aggressive’ on Max.
The alternative is they just sit Oscar behind Lando to act as a tailgunmer and bring both Mclarens home second and third in the race but that’s consigning Oscar to 3rd in championship. Which is why I suspect if Max is leading after the first corner, Oscar will at some point between turn 1 and lap 3 be in 2nd. Perhaps dependent on George’s pace. Though I suspect, as they’re good pals, George would rather see Lando win the WC than his Dutch bete noire…
My guess is the two McLaren drivers will have discussed a few post-Turn 1 strategies.
Well done, Lando! 
