Windsor saw tough time for Hamilton: 'Didn't want Russell as teammate'
Lewis Hamilton won his first F1 race since the 2021 Saudi Arabia GP, when he fought a fierce title battle with Max Verstappen. For Peter Windsor, the Mercedes driver's victory feels like retribution for the defeat he suffered against the Red Bull Racing driver, who won his first world title in 2021.
""I think this race will be remembered because it was two and half years since Abu Dhabi 2021. Since everything that happened on that day when that eighth world championship was snatched from Lewis effectively on the last lap due to a mistake made by the race director, and it’s about everything that’s happened in Lewis’s life since then - a teammate that he didn’t really want, George Russell, instead of Valtteri Bottas, and then perhaps even more significantly, a very uncompetitive Mercedes," Windsor begins his analysis on YouTube.
He continues: "Despite all that over those two and a half years Lewis Hamilton has never lost his motivation or his drive or his enthusiasm for driving, for racing." Windsor argues that many athletes would have retired long ago to enjoy their fame and fortune. "But not Lewis. He just loves racing. He lives for racing," says the former Williams team manager.
Windsor: 'Hamilton's victory retribution for Abu Dhabi 2021'
In the closing stages of the Formula One race, Windsor had flashbacks. "It was down to Max Verstappen versus Lewis Hamilton. Abu Dhabi 21, retribution," he continued. According to the analyst, the final laps felt extra fraught because of the British crowd present in large numbers: "This was also a crowd probably in terms of the majority that had lived through Abu Dhabi 21 as well. I think that’s what made the difference. There was a huge emotional groundswell around the circuit and Lewis for sure could feel it, could see it."
I don't know how this race can be related to AD21.
In my opinion, it's more that he didn't win for so long, and it's obvious that he was struggling with a car that wasn't good, and he publicly pointed that out many times. That's why the victory after such a long time is so sweet, even in a home race. It couldn't have turned out better. I, who have never been his supporter, was glad to see that.
Every driver wants to be the undisputed top dog at their respective teams.
They want to have a clear performance gap to their team mates so that they can concentrate on challenging drivers from competiting teams and not to have to keep fending off his own team mate as well.
I am sure Lando will prefer Daniel as his team mate rather than Oscar, or Charles would prefer Seb rather than Sainz, as they had a clear advantage then. At present, both Charles and Lando have to fight hard to qualify and stay ahead of their respective team mated during races.
Hamilton is being out-qualified 10-2 by Russell this season. That figure would most likely be the other way around, if Bottas was still his team mate.
Next year would be interesting between Hamilton and Charles. I believe Charles will still have the pace to out qualify Hamilton, like what Russell is doing at present.
I agree that I think LeC will probably outqualify LH over the season but I think LH will outrace him over the season, we'll find out at season's end, also I wonder who will be in the second RB next year
Usually I like Windsor but how does he know whether Lewis wanted George as a teammate or not? So far Lewis has shown he does well with George, ignoring obviously some very few and far in between heat of the moment stuff.
Edit: And also ignoring stuff made up by the media.
A couple of things... although Windsor didn't appear to use those words stated in the article, this win was NOT retribution for AD'21. Not even close. An 8th title wouldn't be retribution in some ways.
And as for the team-mate, Lewis would have preferred Bottas. That is quite different from saying he didn't want Russell.
"Despite all that over those two and a half years Lewis Hamilton has never lost his motivation or his drive or his enthusiasm for driving, for racing."
Don't agree with this either. While I believe he never lost his belief that he could still win given the car, I think his motivation did suffer at certain times and his enthusiasm too. That has to suffer when you're getting into a car that can't fight for wins like before.
Sorry Mr Windsor, I don't think your insight is on point here.
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