Lewis Hamilton mocks Mercedes replacement over embarrassin

Lewis Hamilton mocks Mercedes replacement over embarrassing mishap

Lewis Hamilton has taken a playful jab at his former team, Mercedes, mocking his successor amid some early growing pains—specifically referencing the mishaps that have occurred as the team transitions away from his era.

Hamilton mocks Mercedes’ struggles

Prior to the Chinese Grand Prix in April 2024, Hamilton was asked about Mercedes’ car performance, and quipped:

> “It’s going very badly at the moment,” adding with a grin, “but it’s a long, long season, so there’s plenty of time to improve” .

This light-hearted remark highlighted Mercedes’ ongoing struggles with their W15 car, reflecting both the team’s challenges and Hamilton’s sense of detachment now that he’s moved on to Ferrari.

The backdrop: wake‑up calls at Mercedes

These comments came amid a season full of frustration for Mercedes. After Hamilton flagged issues with the 2023 W14—claiming that engineers told him “you’re wrong” about the car’s setup—they eventually ditched the zero‑pod concept, partially vindicating him .

In 2024, further missteps like poor tyre strategies in Singapore and outright “messy” practice sessions in Melbourne only added to the narrative that the car wasn’t meeting expectations .

Enter Kimi Antonelli: the rookie’s rough debut

Mercedes’ new prospect, 18‑year‑old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, landed in the spotlight as Hamilton’s successor. But he faced an early setback—crashing only a few laps into his first FP1 outing at Monza, triggering safety concerns and raised eyebrows .

Team principal Toto Wolff stood by Antonelli, describing him as “astonishingly fast” despite the crash and affirming that one shunt wouldn’t derail his promotion into the 2025 Mercedes seat .

The tone: affectionate, cheeky, but clearly

Hamilton’s comments weren’t biting criticism rather, a playful jab wrapped in truth. While he labored under Mercedes’ flawed car designs, that insider edge gives his mockery a punch. And though Antonelli’s crash provided fodder, Toto Wolff has been quick to defend his rookie talent.

TL;DR

Who What happened The vibe

Hamilton Joked about Mercedes’ struggles at Chinese GP Wry, amused

Mercedes Felt legacy and naming pressure post-Ham’s exit Under scrutiny

Antonelli Crashed early in FP1 debut Rookie learning curve

Toto Wolff Backed Antonelli strongly Supportive, confid

Lewis moved on to Ferrari in 2025, but his parting commentary served as an affectionate roast highlighting the difficulties Mercedes is enduring with new cars and a young driver, and showing he still h

olds a cheeky edge toward his former team.