LEWIS HAMILTON demanded answers over “f***-ups” in team strategy after putting the title champagne on ice.
The Mercedes star finished third in the Japanese Grand Prix as team-mate and race winner Valtteri Bottas cut his lead to 64 points.
Hamilton can now clinch a sixth world crown in Mexico in a fortnight if he collects 14 points more than Bottas.
But despite seeing Merc guarantee the double six — six consecutive driver and constructors’ titles — the Brit was clearly miffed at his team’s strategic decisions in Suzuka.
Talking to his race engineer over the radio, he snapped: “That’s just a f***-up, man, how have I lost that much time? I am basically out of the race.
First, Hamilton lost ten seconds to Bottas after being kept out on old tyres for three more laps than his team-mate when the world champ thought he should have changed to the most durable hard rubber.
He also felt he should have been told to manage his tyres, not blitz them in trying to catch Sebastian Vettel who, like Bottas, was on an obvious two-stop strategy.
Hamilton finished half a second behind the Ferrari driver.
He added: “I came out from the pits and realised I lost ten seconds — and I am like, why?
“If they told me I’d have been that far behind Valtteri, I would have said no to them and stopped earlier.
“Naturally, we will sit and talk to the engineers and strategists. There will be discussions when we get back.”
Mercedes secured the constructors’ championship in Japan[/caption]
TEAM PLAYER
It is not the first time he has questioned strategy this season.
In fairness, he could have disobeyed a team instruction to make a second pitstop while leading and gone on to snatch the win.
But it would have been extremely out of character, for Hamilton has always proved to be a team player. He added: “It could have been better. There have been multiple scenarios during the year where that has been the case.
“I thought about staying out. We should have at least got a one-two finish — strategy wasn’t optimum.”
Hamilton’s Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, did not blame him for his complaints.
He said: “I am not hurt at all. Every driver is keen to maximise every opportunity to win and when that doesn’t happen it is frustrating.”
Mercedes wrapped up their sixth straight constructors’ championship here, equalling the record set by Ferrari from 1999-2004.
But Hamilton fears the Ferraris will be too strong in Mexico and delay his latest coronation.
He said: “Mexico has been our toughest track because of the way our car is set up, so it will be a tough one.
“The last few races there have been pretty shocking, even though we’ve won the title.
“I am hoping for a better weekend but I think it is going to be very hard to beat the Ferraris on those long straights. I don’t anticipate winning it in Mexico.”
Hamilton’s mood did improve as he joined Mercedes colleagues with a rendition of Queen’s We Are The Champions.
And he dedicated the team’s landmark title to the late Niki Lauda, the three-time world champion and Merc’s former non- executive chairman, who died in May.
Hamilton said: “It’s not the same without him. I know Niki would be taking off his hat for the result. We really owe him a huge amount. This win is for him.”
Bottas’ win came after a lightning-quick start to leapfrog both Charles Leclerc and Vettel, despite the German making a false start. He was bizarrely let off by the race stewards and finished second.
Leclerc was later hit with 15-seconds worth of penalties for a collision and driving with a damaged car, which demoted him to seventh place.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
