Mercedes-Benz

LEWIS HAMILTON is confident Mercedes will win an F1 race this season following a “huge” result in Mexico.The Brackley-based team, spearheaded by Hamilton and team-mate George Russell, experienced countless issues with the 2022 car earlier in the year, including relentless bouncing.
Lewis Hamilton is determined to get at least one race win this seasonCredit: Getty
It left them way behind rivals Red Bull and Ferrari for speed as the Austrian and Italian teams dominated.
Neither Hamilton nor Russell have claimed a chequered flag yet – with just two races left of the season.
This could be the seven-time world champion’s first-ever season without a single race win in 16 years in F1.
But after a steady improvement in results – Hamilton finished second in the United States and Mexico GP with Russell fifth and fourth after qualifying in third and second respectively – the Stevenage star believes Mercedes will have something to celebrate before the end of the campaign.
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That is despite the team relinquishing their eight-year grip on the constructors’ title.
Hamilton, who sits fifth in the F1 drivers’ championship 200 points behind champion Max Verstappen, said: “I’m really happy to be up here and to be able to split the Red Bulls is a huge result for us.
“We brought an upgrade into the last race and that seems to have kind of closed the gap a little bit – they still have the edge – but it was amazing for us to be fighting in qualifying and have the second and third.
“I was speaking about in strategy about us taking a risk with one of the cars at least doing something different.
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“I had a gut feeling that they will be on the soft to start with and when everyone took their blankets off, everyone around us was on the softs and we’re on the mediums.
“At that moment, I thought that we may be in trouble.
“But then again, it’s a long, long race, so I thought maybe they’ll be on a two-stop. But that medium tyre just had no drop-off.
“So ultimately, I think they were on the right tyre strategy.
“But I am grateful I was able to just about keep up within that first stint. That’s huge, to be able to keep up with a Red Bull.”
The drivers have this weekend off and then head to Brazil for the penultimate race of the season.
Hamilton has enjoyed plenty of success in Sao Paulo including one of the best race wins of his career in 2021 to set up the dramatic finale in Abu Dhabi, where the 2022 season also culminates.
Hamilton and George Russell have made steady improvements over the yearCredit: Splash More

LEWIS HAMILTON has admitted that it was “awkward” being booed at the Mexican Grand Prix. Jeering reigned down on the seven-times World Champion as he gave his post-race interview yesterday.
Hamilton is still searching for that elusive first win of the seasonCredit: Getty
Sergio Perez celebrated a second podium at his home race in MexicoCredit: Splash
Perez could be seen wagging his finger at the crowd as they boo HamiltonCredit: https://twitter.com/sainzhub/status/1586840208162562050/photo/1
He was defended by home hero Sergio Perez who tried desperately to urge his countrymen and women to stop booing.
It is the latest sign of the heated division that runs among fans after last season’s controversial ending.
Max Verstappen and Perez found themselves on the receiving end of boos at the US Grand Prix last week.
Hamilton still sought to praise Mexico despite his reception and rued a dodgy strategy that left him far off eventual winner Verstappen.
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He said: “It has definitely been a bit awkward this time around with boos all day. But, nevertheless, I have so much love for Mexico and for the people here.
“I was so close [to Verstappen] in that first stint but I think the Red Bull was clearly too fast and ultimately they had the better tyre strategy.
“I’m not sure the hard tyre was the right tyre at the end. I thought we should have started the race on the soft [rather than the medium], but obviously we had the opposite tyre to them.”
As the Brit spoke and was booed, Perez wagged his finger at the crowd to try and get them to stop.
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He managed to climb onto the podium in his home race as he watched teammate Verstappen claim a record-breaking 14th win in a single season.
With the Driver’s and Constructor’s Championship wrapped up, much of the end of season intrigue is coming from off the track.
After weeks of tension, Red Bull were punished for breaching F1’s cost cap which has reignited unease over Verstappen’s title win last season.
This unease has spread from fans into the paddock with Red Bull now boycotting Sky Sports after reporter Ted Kravitz claimed Hamilton was “robbed” of the title last year. More

LEWIS HAMILTON was left to question Mercedes’ strategy after he lost out to Max Verstappen in the Mexican Grand Prix. Tyre choices proved to be crucial for all the cars up and down the grid with overtaking traditionally difficult around this circuit.
Lewis Hamilton only has two races left to try and claim his first win of the seasonCredit: Getty
With Hamilton and his teammate George Russell starting third and second respectively, behind Verstappen, hopes had risen that the seven-times World Champion could challenge for his first win of the season.
But strategy proved to be the undoing.
Mercedes had Hamilton and Russell start on the medium tyre and switch to the long-life but less grippier hard tyres, whereas Red Bull had Verstappen start on the quicker soft tyre before moving onto the surprisingly durable medium.
Hamilton thought this was the major difference between both teams in the race.
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He told Sky Sports after the Mexican Grand Prix: “When I was on the medium tyres there wasn’t really any degradation when they pulled me in, so I think ultimately we should have been on the softs.
“It’s something that I had asked and questioned. I thought maybe one of us, the two Mercedes, should have a soft to be able to attack.
“When both Red Bulls, and everyone behind, took their tyres off [at the beginning of the race] and had softs, I thought ‘shoot’.”
But an upbeat Hamilton added: “It may be a loss for us today but still this is good points. [There are] so many positives [to take]. The upgrade really, really worked in the last race.
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“We still have improvements to make, which we probably won’t make in the rest of this year, but we know exactly where we need to improve for next year.”
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff admitted that the team messed up on strategy, adding that Red Bull’s soft-to-medium combination “wasn’t even on the radar.”
Meanwhile, Russell reflected on an exciting first-lap when he duelled with Hamilton before eventually losing second place.
He said: “I think the last four races for me have been probably scrappy and going into turn one, I knew I wouldn’t be able to overtake Max around the outside.
“And then when I had Lewis there, probably if it was anyone else but my team-mate, I’d have just ran him off the road.” More

FOR a second day running, a procession swept through Mexico City.On Saturday night it was the hour-long parade of floats and dancers for the spectacular Día de los Muertos – or Day of the Dead – celebrations.
Winner Max Verstappen shares the podium with his Red Bull Racing’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, plus Lewis Hamilton and Sergio PerezCredit: AFP
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates winning a record 14th GP of the yearCredit: Reuters
Lewis Hamilton races ahead of Sergio Perez but had to settle for runner-up spotCredit: Getty
And on Sunday it was Max Verstappen’s turn as he coasted to an easy victory to set a new Formula One record for winning 14 races in a season.
He said over the team’s radio: “Amazing guys, 14 wins in a season, unbelievable.”
And the Dutchman later added: “Of course the start helped me out a lot.
“We were also on a different strategy to the other cars around us but again, an incredible result.
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“The pace of the car was really nice. We had to look after our tyres because it was a really long stint on the mediums but we made it work.
“It’s an incredible atmosphere and we love to come here. It’s been an incredible year so far,”
Boss Christian Horner said: “Well done mate, that is a new record. That is the most race wins we have had in a season.”
Not that Sky F1 viewers would hear too much about it afterwards, given that Verstappen and his Red Bull team snubbed the broadcaster over a row centering on the channel’s roving reporter, Ted Kravitz.
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Contrary to some views, the feud was not a reaction to Sky’s presentation of Red Bull’s cost-cap breach.
Verstappen said: “It was not to do with this weekend but this year a constant kind of…being disrespectful, especially one particular person.
“Enough is enough and I don’t accept it.
“You have to move on and social media is such a toxic place and if you are constantly being like that live on TV you are making it worse instead of making it better in the world and disrespecting me and I won’t tolerate it and that’s why I decided to stop answering [to Sky].”
It’s the culmination of what the F1 team feel has been on-going sniping from Kravitz in the wake of last year’s Abu Dhabi GP.
The final straw was last weekend when Kravitz implied Hamilton had been “robbed” of last year’s title in a bumbling chat about a potential Hollywood script for Brad Pitt, who is making an F1 film.
When asked by SunSport, Sky declined to comment while Red Bull say the ban is indefinite as they clearly feel the broadcaster has some making up to do.
The fallout between the two was in truth more spectacular than this race.
Sure, its capacity and colourful crowd made this event, but this was a comfortable win for Verstappen as Lewis Hamilton was unable to mount a serious threat and finished in second place, some 15 seconds behind.
Verstappen got a good start, as did Hamilton who was able to squeeze past George Russell on the first lap.
World champ Max Verstappen heads Carlos Sainz on the way to victoryCredit: Getty
Russell was then passed by Serio Perez as the home favourite was able to make up a place from his fourth-slot on the grid.
But we were denied the tantalising prospect of seeing Hamilton slug it out with pole-sitter Verstappen, who was just too quick on the soft tyre.
The Red Bull man was maintaining his gap to Hamilton until he stopped for fresh tyres at the end of lap 25.
His pitstop was quick at 2.5 seconds, unlike Perez, who had to wait twice as long for his pitstop on the previous lap.
That promoted Hamilton into the lead as Verstappen’s stop dropped him to third behind Russell.
But his time out in front did not last long, as he stopped himself at the end of lap 30.
And when Russell made his pitstop on lap 37, it was Verstappen who was leading again with Hamilton second, Perez third and Russell in fourth.
It remained that way until the end with Russell pitting on the penultimate lap for fresh tyres as he was able to set the fastest lap and snatch a bonus point.
While Ferrari were left as the best-of-the-rest once again, as the Italian team failed to impress with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in fifth and sixth place respectively.
Meanwhile, Hamilton has been told he has a job at Mercedes for life by Wolff.
I was so close in that first stint but I think the Red Bull was clearly too fast today and ultimately, maybe they had the better tyre strategy.Lewis Hamilton
The Mercedes ace, 37, will start to open talks over a new deal with the team to remain in F1 after 2023.
He already has a contract in place for next season, worth £40million a season, but he is looking to prolong his F1 career into his 40s.
Wolff said: “It is 100 percent his seat,” when asked if he was looking at other drivers for beyond 2023.
He added: “We haven’t started any talks. We want to definitely finish the season and then find some quiet time over the winter like we did last time around.
“He’s much more than a driver to us now.
“And although we’re not talking about a career end, it’s also important to speak about his role as an ambassador for Mercedes and the many sponsors we have and the implication he can have in our wider universe.”
Hamilton admitted to discomfort at the reception he got from home fans.
He said: “This has been an amazing crowd, definitely a bit awkward this time around with boos all day.
“But, nevertheless I have so much love for Mexico and for the people here. What a great race and an event they’ve put on this weekend.
“I was so close in that first stint but I think the Red Bull was clearly too fast today and ultimately, maybe they had the better tyre strategy.” More

LEWIS HAMILTON has been told he has a job at Mercedes for life.The Mercedes ace, 37, will open talks in the winter to discuss a new deal which will see him remain in F1 after 2023.
Hamilton is expected to sign a new deal with MercedesCredit: Splash
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has promised him a long-term roleCredit: PA
He already has a contract in place for next season, worth £40million, but he is looking to prolong his F1 career into his 40s.
And Merc boss Toto Wolff says Hamilton is assured of his seat – providing he wants to remain in F1.
Wolff said: “It is 100 percent his [Lewis’] seat,” when asked if he was looking at other drivers for beyond 2023.
He added: “We haven’t started any talks. We want to definitely finish the season and then find some quiet time over the winter like we did last time around.
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“He’s much more than a driver to us now.
“And although we’re not talking about a career end, it’s also important to speak about his role as an ambassador for Mercedes and the many sponsors we have and the implication he can have in our wider universe.”
Wolff’s comments come at a time when he has been linked with a potential swoop for current world champion Max Verstappen in the future.
A paddock source has told SunSport that Wolff holds regular talks with Verstappen and his father, Jos, although the content of those conversations remain private.
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Hamilton has won six of his titles during his 10 years with Mercedes and has played a crucial role in helping them develop their car this season.
He has made no secret of the fact he still “feels young” and has set no time limit for how long he wishes to continue racing.
And Wolff also believes his driver is far from over and says he could follow American Football star Tom Brady, who still plays in the NFL at the age of 45.
He said: “You can see today’s athletes pushing the boundaries in terms of age.
“For me, Fernando (Alonso) is performing at a very high level and you look, for me, at the best athlete in the world, Tom Brady, on the field being tackled and throwing a ball at 45-years-old.
“As long as you continue to look after yourself and your cognitive sensors, I think he has many more years in him.
“I’m pretty certain that’s going to be the case here in the team.”
Ahead of the Mexico GP, Alonso had suggested Verstappen’s two titles were worth more as he was fighting other drivers, rather than his own teammate.
Hamilton responded on Twitter with a brilliant image of him on the top step of the podium in the 2007 US GP with Alonso in P2.
Wolff also responded to Red Bull’s breach of F1’s cost cap, saying the fact they were found guilty and subsequently penalised with a £6million fine and reduction in wind tunnel time also caused “reputational damage” to his rivals.
He said: “They (the FIA) were absolutely good in assessing. I know how rigorous they were with us all throughout the year. That was a difficult process.
“Overall, it’s good to see that there is a penalty, whether we deem it too low or too high.
“What you see is that beyond a sporting penalty and financial fine, it’s also reputational damage.”
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has snubbed Sky Sports at the Mexico Grand Prix as he is upset by some comments from the presenters on the channel.
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Reporter Ted Kravitz implied he “robbed” Hamilton of the title last year when bumbling about a potential Hollywood script for Brad Pitt.
Consequently, the world champion swerved the UK-based Sky Sports team, as well as their German and Italian affiliates. More