BREAKING: Hamilton offers MILLION DOLLAR reward over Merced

Lewis Hamilton offers MILLION DOLLAR reward over Mercedes investigation

Lewis Hamilton has expressed his frustration following a disappointing performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix, even offering a “million-dollar reward” for identifying the root cause of his Mercedes car’s issues. The seven-time Formula 1 champion endured a tough weekend at Interlagos, finishing 11th in the sprint race and only managing 10th place in the main event after another poor showing in qualifying.

Usually known for his mastery in wet conditions, Hamilton struggled significantly in qualifying, being eliminated in Q1 and forced to start the race from 14th on the grid. Despite making a strong start and climbing to P10 by the end of the first lap, his performance on race day was marred by several errors, preventing him from improving his position further. As a result, Hamilton took home just one point from the weekend, a major disappointment given the 34 points available.

This latest setback has been part of an ongoing struggle for Hamilton and the Mercedes team this season. Although Hamilton has enjoyed some high points during his 12 years with Mercedes, recent performances have raised questions about the car’s reliability and consistency. Despite having a 25-point advantage over teammate George Russell earlier in the season—largely due to Russell’s disqualification in Belgium—Hamilton has now fallen behind in the drivers’ standings. This marks a sharp contrast from his usual dominance within the team.

One concerning statistic is that Hamilton has been outqualified by Russell in 16 of 21 races so far this season, a notable challenge for the veteran driver. Hamilton’s performance issues in qualifying are particularly striking, especially as he prepares to face off against Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc next season—widely regarded as one of the best qualifiers on the grid.

The Brazilian Grand Prix was just one of several difficult weekends for Hamilton in recent months. His campaign has been hampered by poor results, including a disqualification at the U.S. Grand Prix, which has seen him score just 26 points over the last five races. While Mercedes appeared to make some progress earlier in the season, with Hamilton and Russell securing three wins in four races over the summer, the W15 car has often been inconsistent, at times looking like the fourth-fastest car on the grid. This has made it difficult for the team to maintain any momentum.

Hamilton’s frustrations have boiled over in recent interviews, where he openly questioned the media about what might be going wrong with the car. After the race in Brazil, he sarcastically offered a reporter a “million dollars” if they could figure out the underlying issue with his Mercedes. “You tell me,” he said when asked what the problem was. “That’s the million-dollar question. If you can find it, I’ll give you a million dollars.”

Despite these struggles, Hamilton remains focused on finishing the season as strongly as possible and is determined to return to the top next year. However, with his teammate Russell now outperforming him and the car’s issues unresolved, Mercedes will need to make significant improvements if they hope to return to their previous dominance.

As Hamilton looks ahead to his future challenges with Ferrari and his new teammate Leclerc in 2025, he will undoubtedly push Mercedes to address the inconsistencies that have plagued this season. With the championship now out of reach, the final races of the season will be crucial for both Hamilton and Mercedes as they work to regain their competitive edge.