F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Canada Reaction - 'Here Is A Good Guy Blaming Himself'

Alex Harrington | Jun 16, 2024

Canadian Grand Prix, Sunday / Sulay Kelly

In the aftermath of the F1 Canadian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton, the seasoned Mercedes driver, has taken an unusually self-critical stance on his performance, despite a respectable fourth-place finish just behind his teammate George Russell. Hamilton characterized the event as "one of the worst races” he has driven, a statement reflecting deep personal disappointment and a willingness to accept full responsibility for his performance lapses. The F1 Nation podcast dives into this, questioning his reasoning behind the driver's statements.

According to F1 Nation podcast host Tom Clarkson, Hamilton went into the race encouraged by the performance boosts seen in practice sessions facilitated by a new front wing configuration, which had not been used at Monaco. "Lewis Hamilton was buoyed by knowing that he would have the front wing on his car, which he hadn’t run in Monaco. He was buoyed, very quick in practice. It slipped away in qualifying. He said after the race that he didn’t drive a great race,” Clarkson explained, suggesting Hamilton's acknowledgment of his subpar performance could be a strategic nudge at Russell about the circumstances of his overtaking.

Contrasting Clarkson's analysis, Natalie Pinkham offered a more straightforward interpretation of Hamilton's self-critique, emphasizing the genuine nature of his acknowledgment.

“He actually said it was one of his worst races for a very long time. Talk about self-chastisement and the blame game! Very publicly shouldering the responsibility of that. Was it that bad of a race?” Pinkham questioned, diving into the psychological nuances of Hamilton's comments.

She applauded Hamilton for his openness in admitting faults, "You are taking too deep a dive into the psychology. Whatever he says, people will spin it. They say ‘one moment you blame the upgrades, then you blame the team…’ No, he’s holding his hands up. Here is a good guy, blaming himself, saying ‘I wasn’t good enough today’. I thought it was amazing to hear. Here is a man who doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone and he was still prepared to own it, in that moment.”

Adding layers to this assessment of Hamilton's mind-set, Clarkson recollected Hamilton's recent expressions of uncertainty about his car's inconsistent performance, particularly during qualifying sessions in comparison to his teammate.

“He doesn’t have anything to prove. Yet, on Saturday after qualifying, he was saying ‘I don’t understand why the performance of my car drops away in qualifying’. Two weeks earlier in Monaco, the same guy said ‘I don’t think I will out-qualify Russell this year’.”

Pinkham sympathized with the pressure faced by drivers like Hamilton, subjected to intense scrutiny where every comment can be overanalyzed.

“I feel for these drivers! They can’t say anything without being dissected by us! Maybe it’s just a throwaway statement. If your worst race is coming fourth? Then things are improving at Mercedes,” she concluded.

Indeed, Hamilton’s harsh self-appraisal, whether a tactical expression or a candid admittance, underscores the high standards to which he holds himself. As the dynamics within Mercedes continue to evolve, Hamilton's willingness to openly critique his performances reflects not only his personal commitment to excellence but also signifies a mature perspective.