Lewis Hamilton has admitted that his frustration after the Brazilian GP was so intense, he briefly considered walking away from Mercedes before the season even ended.
Fans were shocked when the seven-time world champion told his team over the radio, "If this is the last time that I get to perform, it's a shame it wasn't great, but grateful for you." His subsequent comment about taking a "holiday" only fuelled speculation about his commitment.
Although Mercedes initially dismissed the remarks as heat-of-the-moment frustration, Hamilton clarified during the Las Vegas GP weekend: "In the moment, that's how I felt. Like I didn't really want to come back after that weekend."
Hamilton's struggles with Mercedes' 2024 car have been notably pronounced compared to his teammate George Russell. Reflecting on the challenges, Hamilton said in Las Vegas: "If they provide a car that wants to stay on track, hopefully we'll have a better result here."
Adding to the speculation about Hamilton's mindset were comments by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff in a newly released book, where he referred to drivers having a "shelf-life." However, Hamilton brushed off suggestions that the remarks bothered him.
"No. I think just me being here, standing tall—I feel strong," he insisted. "I've been around this game for a long time. There's been so many things said about me—so many microaggressions. I'm not saying from my boss, because he's been supportive over all these years and we've achieved a lot together. I mean in general. But nothing can take me down, so I'm still here, I'm still fighting."
Wolff confirmed that the pair addressed the comments directly, saying on Thursday: "One rule that we established very early in our relationship is that we talk immediately and say 'why did you say that?' or 'what did you mean?' and that is what we have done."
As Hamilton prepares for his final three races with Mercedes before moving to Ferrari, he expressed confidence that his struggles this season will not carry over. "I'm pretty sure I'll never have another season like 2024," he concluded.
