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Newly released audio from the Brazilian Grand Prix captures Lewis Hamilton calling his Mercedes "the worst it has ever been" during a challenging weekend where he finished 11th in the sprint race and 10th on race day, even hinting he might quit the season early. Hamilton struggled with control in the rain-soaked Interlagos track, crashing out in Q1 and starting 14th after a tough qualifying session. Meanwhile, teammate George Russell placed fourth after starting at the front.
With a Ferrari move on the horizon, Hamilton voiced frustration with his current car's performance, saying on the team radio, "That was a disaster of a weekend... the worst the car has ever been." Despite the challenges, he thanked his team but suggested he'd consider ending his season early, adding, "It's like driving a plank of wood... it's bouncing everywhere." He admitted he'd "happily take a holiday" if he could, describing the stiff, bumpy ride as one of the worst he's experienced.
Hamilton, who has had two wins and two additional podiums this season but sits seventh in the driver's standings, experienced his lowest finish since 2022 in São Paulo. He expressed relief that there are only three races left, saying, "The race was terrible, but driving Senna's car was the best thing ever."
As Max Verstappen claimed victory in Brazil, extending his title chances, he also took a jab at the British press for their absence at the post-race press conference, questioning if they'd already "run to the airport." Verstappen's comments follow his prior remarks about the dominance of British media in F1, which he feels skews coverage in favor of British drivers.
In a weekend of frustration for several drivers, Lando Norris, who qualified in pole, ended sixth after grappling with conditions, while Pierre Gasly celebrated a third-place finish for Alpine. With three races left, Verstappen could secure his fourth consecutive championship as early as the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 23.
