Hamilton retirement talk is ‘just utter nonsense’

Michelle Foster
Lewis Hamilton with Angela Cullen on the grid . Imola April 2022

Lewis Hamilton looking serious as he stands with Angela Cullen on the grid . Imola April 2022

Martin Brundle says claims that Lewis Hamilton should retire are “just utter nonsense”, it’s the car, that’s the problem, and not the driver.

Last season Hamilton was fighting Max Verstappen for the World title, this season the Mercedes driver is having a hard time scoring points.

Hamilton had a disastrous Imola Grand Prix weekend, so much so that he was lapped by Verstappen before finishing a lowly P13.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko reckons Hamilton is probably thinking he should have quit at the end of last season.

Hamilton responded, taking to social media to declare: “Working on my masterpiece, I’ll be the one to decide when it’s finished.”

Former F1 driver turned commentator Martin Brundle says talk of the seven-time World Champion quitting is “just utter nonsense”.

“All of a sudden, he’s fed up, he’s had enough, he should retire,” Brundle told Sky Sports News.

“That’s just utter nonsense. His car’s not working… let’s hope Mercedes can get the car working sooner or later.

“It’s way too early to talk about Lewis leaving.

“It’s only a few months ago that we were wondering whether the Brazilian GP weekend was Lewis’ greatest-ever drive.

“We can’t go from the revelation of Brazil to: He’s a busted flush, he should stop. That’s just silly talk.

“I loved his line – ‘it’s my masterpiece and I’ll decide when it’s finished’ – I thought it was genius. I think that summed it up perfectly. He can call the shots.”

Right now, though, he is having to contend with being second best to his team-mate George Russell.

The Briton, who has finished inside the top five in all four grands prix, has a 21-point advantage over his more experienced team-mate.

“I think George is handling a bad car better than Lewis is,” Brundle explained.

“George has still got all the motivation and the enthusiasm, and he has had three years of manhandling a Williams around, getting better results than it perhaps should have done.

“He’s doing a fine job and I think he’s very special. I’m not at all surprised he’s at least matching Lewis, that’s exactly what I expected him to do.”

“There’s a lot of time to be found if they can find the solution.”

 

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