Lewis Hamilton sends Strong WARNING to Toto Wolff as George Russell's...

Lewis Hamilton sends Strong WARNING to Toto Wolff as George Russell’s…read more.

Lewis Hamilton has issued a strong warning to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff following a frustrating Singapore Grand Prix, where a series of strategic errors left the seven-time world champion questioning his motivation. The race highlighted rising tensions between Hamilton and teammate George Russell, whose recent performances have added to Hamilton’s growing dissatisfaction with Mercedes’ strategic decisions.

Hamilton managed to qualify third for the Singapore GP, surpassing Russell in qualifying for just the fifth time this season. Mercedes chose an aggressive strategy, starting Hamilton on soft compound tyres while most of the grid opted for mediums. The plan was to allow Hamilton to challenge Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who started second, in the early stages of the race. However, the strategy quickly backfired as Hamilton experienced significant wheelspin at the start, preventing him from challenging Verstappen.

As Hamilton’s soft tyres began to degrade more rapidly than expected, Mercedes decided to call him into the pits early, switching to hard tyres in a bid to complete the race without further pit stops. Unfortunately, this move proved costly, as it allowed Russell, along with Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc, to undercut Hamilton during their own pit stops. This left the British driver behind his teammate and several other key competitors, further fueling his frustration.

When Russell rejoined the race ahead of him, Hamilton voiced his displeasure over the team radio, delivering a dejected message to his engineer Peter Bonnington: “Sometimes I wonder why I do this.” This wasn’t the first instance of Hamilton airing his frustration during the race, as he has been openly critical of Mercedes’ strategy decisions throughout the season.

At the end of the race, Toto Wolff addressed Hamilton over the radio, apologizing for the team’s missteps. “Yeah Lewis, sorry,” Wolff admitted. “We gave you a car that was just not good enough here, and obviously we read the race wrong, but it wouldn’t have made a difference. We were just slow today.” While Wolff’s apology acknowledged the team’s failure, Hamilton’s dissatisfaction remained clear, signaling growing unease within the Mercedes camp.

This latest incident is just one in a string of frustrations for Hamilton this season. His No. 44 crew has often struggled to find the right setup for qualifying, which has left Hamilton with significant ground to make up during races. Mercedes has tried unconventional strategies to turn their results around, but these decisions have often led to more frustration than success.

Adding to the tension is the impressive form of George Russell, who has frequently outperformed Hamilton this season. Russell’s strong performances have created internal competition within the team, which has not gone unnoticed by Hamilton. The 24-year-old has often benefited from strategy calls that seem to favor his track position, intensifying Hamilton’s frustrations.

With only six races remaining in the season, Mercedes’ hopes for silverware are all but gone. Ferrari has pulled ahead in the Constructors’ Championship, leaving Mercedes with little to fight for in terms of championship glory. Nevertheless, both Wolff and Hamilton will be keen to find some positives in the remaining races, especially as their long and successful partnership comes to an end after this season.

The end of the 2024 season will also mark a significant career transition for Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari over the winter. The move will bring an end to his 12-year relationship with Mercedes, a partnership that has seen him win seven world championships and countless race victories. However, the frustrations of the current season suggest that both Hamilton and the team are ready for a fresh start, despite the bittersweet nature of their parting.

As Hamilton looks ahead to the final races of his Mercedes career, he will be hoping for a stronger finish to a difficult season. Though the team’s championship chances have faded, the ongoing struggles at the Singapore GP serve as a stark reminder of the challenges that have plagued both Hamilton and Mercedes throughout the 2024 campaign.