In Brazil, the Mercedes driver was well behind Max Verstappen, the winner of the sprint race.
Following his disappointing seventh place finish in Saturday’s shortened race in Brazil, Lewis Hamilton said he is “counting down the days” until the end of the season.
Max Verstappen defeated pole-sitter Lando Norris to reach the first bend, earning his fourth sprint victory out of six this year.
After finishing 4.2 seconds behind Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, Norris came in third.
Thanks to their performances in the previous two rounds, Hamilton and Mercedes have reason to believe that they are getting closer to Verstappen’s undefeated Red Bull squad. However, they received a reality check on Saturday.
George Russell, Hamilton’s teammate, finished fourth after just 24 laps, 26 seconds behind Verstappen. Hamilton was in the other Mercedes, thirty-five seconds behind.
“The last few races we have been excited that we have been progressing, and it has been positive to see,” Hamilton said. Seven days later, he finished second again in Mexico with a legal car. Hamilton had finished second in Austin but was disqualified after his Mercedes failed a post-race scrutineering check.
You just never know what to expect, but then you go to another track and I have the worst tyre degradation I have had in a long time.
It was a really difficult race. After we got off to a strong start, I tried to find the ideal balance. However, I experienced severe understeer, abrupt oversteer, and the rear tires failed.
“I will be happy because I only have a few more races left with this car before it is done. I’m just keeping track of the days.
Hamilton still has three chances to avoid a second straight season without a win: this Sunday’s 71-lap Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi.
He last appeared in the winner’s circle at the penultimate round of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi, which will occur on Sunday, marking 700 days since then.
Verstappen has won 32 races in that same time frame, which is the same amount of wins Fernando Alonso collected in his whole career. When he starts from pole on Sunday, the Dutchman will be the favorite to continue his incredible winning run. Starting fifth is Hamilton.
Toto Wolff, the principal of the Mercedes team, described the day as “bruising.” “I don’t believe that everything can be fixed by turning a magic screw.
“Everything went against us. We need to really scratch our heads hard over what we can do for tomorrow, and improve.”
Hamilton was fifth on the grid and moved up one place on the first lap following a fine move round the outside of Perez at Turn 4.
But the Mexican moved back ahead four laps later before Hamilton was gazumped by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and the AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda in the closing laps. Perez extended his lead over Hamilton in the race for championship runner-up from 20 points to 24.
For Norris, his bid to win for the first time in Formula One was over in the blink of an eye after he was out-gunned by Verstappen at the start.
Norris enjoyed a decent getaway, but he failed to cover off the inside line, allowing Verstappen to sling his Red Bull through.
“I need to review my start,” said Norris. “My initial phase was good but maybe I was too conservative and on the safe side.
“There are a lot of shoulda, coulda, wouldas. I am feeling very comfortable in the car but there are things I need to work on, and I am working on them.”
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