Mercedes: 'That's why it looked like Hamilton had to celebrate alone'

17:55, 20 Sep 2023
5 Comments

The final stage of the Singapore Grand Prix was nasty for Mercedes. The team had sight of a win, but in the end a hard crash by George Russell left only a P3 for Lewis Hamilton. James Allison says he was happy with Russell anyway and explains why Hamilton seemed to be celebrating his podium alone.

Hamilton was not alone after P3 finish

Russell's crash and Hamilton's 'lonely' podium celebration were related. Hamilton seemed to stand motherly alone among Ferrari's celebrations after the race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Although not many Mercedes team members were present at the podium interviews, Hamilton was apparently not alone after all.

Technical director, Allison explained: "Of course the team was there at the podium to celebrate with Lewis. As many of the team as it was practical to get to the podium were there because we enjoy it. We love standing there and clapping and cheering for our driver.Necessarily a certain amount of the team had to stay in the garage during that event because we needed to receive George’s car back from the marshals who were bringing it back into the pit lane."

Allison thinks the Mercedes team members could not be seen because the direction was entirely focused on the celebratory mood at Ferrari. After all, that team managed to break the 2023 Red Bull Racing winning streak. "There was a very significant number of all teams down there at the podium ceremony, we were a big part of it but not maybe where the camera lighted during the podium celebrations. " he said.

Russell showed character after crash

On Russell's crash, Allison says the driver was inconsolable after the race. Allison: "However, it is a testament to his character to the strength of his character that instead of crawling into a little hole and suffering in silence notwithstanding the fact that he was that upset he came out he spoke to every single person on the team at the track, apologised to them in person for his mistake and owned it properly"

5 Comments
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Red Bull Cactus 20 September 2023 at 18:27+ 4095

I was gonna say, it was obviously a Ferrari party, and with Sainz and Lando being buddies, it wasn't so strange that they were happy together. It was the same in Monza when Sainz was the odd one out, it happens. But yeah, they also had to take care of George's car as well. I'm not sure if people were actually making comments about it to guarantee this 'explanation', it didn't really look strange to me.

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Mavric 20 September 2023 at 19:06+ 19032

All beecause its,lewis not getting the attention they have make,somthing about it .they had to sort russell car out that he crash but hay it the lewis f1,show

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Red Bull Cactus 20 September 2023 at 21:43+ 4095

... i'm trying to respond to you, but somehow it's "Forbidden content". I have no idea which part that would be, so i have no idea how to break it up or modify it. Not sure what i am allowed to say, because i was just giving a comment, there were no curse words in it whatsoever. I'll try to rephrase a bit, and i'll edit it as i go, to see where i "cross the line". EDIT: well i think i've got everything into the comment again, still not sure what the problem was though.

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Red Bull Cactus 20 September 2023 at 21:46+ 4095

I guess it is the Lewis show for many people still. But i thought it was obvious when they crossed the finish line, because Lando and Sainz were cheering and weaving, and Lewis just cruised along. It didn't feel like he was part of that party already. Add Fred Vasseur to that, and it was perfectly normal to me to see them having a little party. Lewis isn't usually close buddies with a lot of drivers (that i know of), not like Sainz and Lando. And it's been a while since he won, so i can't really remember who he usually parties with. If Max was on the podium with Lewis and a buddy of his and Toto, then it would be expected to see Max party on his own there, it's just how people are.

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F1isBack 21 September 2023 at 24:50+ 31513

I suppose much of that has to do with Lewis earning 3rd due to is pressure on George causing him to crash but thats racing. Had Carlos and Lando crashed as well it would have given Lewis his first win since Saudi Arabia in 2021.