Hamilton responds to fans claiming a Mercedes sabotage

F1 News

Hamilton on Mercedes sabotage claims from fans
20 June at 16:12
  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

Lewis Hamilton has dismissed claims of a Mercedes sabotage over recent weeks after calls from fans on social media. He has also asked for a reduction in negativity towards his teammate George Russell. The seven-time World Champion is currently being dominated in qualifying by Russell, culminating in Canada when the younger Brit secured his first pole position of the season.

Hamilton had his best result of the season in Canada, scoring 13 World Championship points. But he later labelled the race one of the worst performances in his entire Formula 1 career. He saw a chance of a podium diminish when Russell made a late overtake down the home straight. This, combined with his qualifying record in 2024, led to some fans on social media being sceptical, with many suggesting "foul play." Some fans even turned against Russell.

How Hamilton responded to fan claims

Hamilton sharply dismissed the claims and asked for the negativity to be removed. "They know we have always been a strong team. We've always worked hard together. It's easy to get emotional. I commented on the last race about my performance for example. We need support, not negativity. I wasn't aware that George was experiencing it [on social media]. He does nothing but his best every weekend for the team. He can't be faulted at all," Hamilton said.

Hamilton will leave Mercedes after the 2024 season to take up an adventure at Ferrari. He knows the team can get do things to improve performance, and highlights the desire to finish as strongly as possible. "There can always be things done better within the team. That comes through communication. We all want to finish on a high, and we owe that to our long-term relationship," Hamilton added.