Lewis Hamilton F1 News: Mercedes release official statement as star's Singapore GP appearance cancelled

Photo: © IMAGO

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes release OFFICIAL statement as Hamilton F1 appearance cancelled

Lewis Hamilton will not be making an appearance at a previous F1 commitment

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Monday 23 September 2024 21:00

Mercedes have released an official statement explaining why seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton did not make a scheduled appearance at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Despite starting third in the race on Sunday, a poor tire strategy meant that Hamilton dropped down places in the grand prix.

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In the end, he finished P6, splitting the two Ferrari's, with team-mate George Russell ahead of him in P4.

Ultimately, as alluded to above, it was Hamilton and his team's decision to start on the soft tire that ultimately cost him places in Singapore.

Lewis Hamilton struggled with his tyres in Singapore

Why did Lewis Hamilton not speak to the media?

Hamilton and his team-mate were eventually passed by Oscar Piastri who claimed the final spot on the podium, making it another weekend to forget for the Ferrari-bound driver.

Following the Singapore GP Mercedes confirmed that neither Hamilton or Russell would be attending their post-race media commitments in an official statement.

"Unfortunately neither George or Lewis will be attending the media pen this evening as they recover from the exertions from this evening's race,” the statement read.

George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will not speak to the media after Singapore GP

The media instead will receive quotes from the pair in Mercedes’ post-race press release later, as they recover from the physical challenge of the race.

With humidity and temperatures already high around the streets of Singapore, drivers feel the intensity of the heat even more in the cockpit.

In addition to pushing relentlessly for 62 laps, drivers are also estimated to lose up to 4kg of sweat after the Singapore GP.

Hamilton and Russell were not the only exhausted drivers post-race, with Franco Colapinto unable to speak to Williams after his first race at the street circuit.

Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Mercedes Lando Norris Singapore Grand Prix