Following the conclusion of the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton expressed that he felt demotivated to continue racing. The British driver described his outing at Interlagos as disastrous, revealing it left him contemplating his future in the sport. In an emotional moment, he admitted he no longer wanted to race, citing the challenges of the weekend.
Hamilton’s struggles began during Sprint qualifying, where he failed to advance to SQ3. This poor performance carried over to the Sprint race, where he finished in P11, the same position he started. The main Grand Prix qualifying session added to his woes when he was unexpectedly eliminated in Q1, resulting in a P16 grid position. However, penalties for Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz allowed Hamilton to start the race in P14. Despite this advantage, he could only secure P10 in the Grand Prix, earning just one point across a difficult weekend.
Speaking on team radio after the race, Hamilton hinted that it might have been his last time driving for Mercedes. Later, in a conversation with Sky Sports F1, he shared that he was looking forward to the Christmas break, which typically marks the end of the season. However, ahead of the Las Vegas GP, Hamilton clarified his remarks.
#F1 | Lewis Hamilton explains his #BrazilGP radio message:
“In the moment that’s how I felt, I didn’t really wanna come back after that weekend. But I think that’s only natural, it’s frustrating when you have a season like this – which I’m pretty sure I won’t have again.” pic.twitter.com/t7G9WRaIgs
— deni (@fiagirly) November 21, 2024
“In the moment, that’s how I felt,” Hamilton admitted. “I didn’t really want to come back after that weekend, but I think that’s only natural. It’s frustrating when you have a season like this, which I’m pretty sure I won’t have again—or at least I’ll work toward not having again.” Despite his frustration, he reassured fans and media that he remains committed to the season’s remaining races, saying, “It wasn’t a great feeling in that moment, but I’m here, I’m standing strong, and I’m going to give it absolutely everything for these last few races.”
Hamilton has three races left with Mercedes before transitioning to Ferrari. Earlier this year, he signed a lucrative contract to join the Italian team, ending a 12-year partnership with Mercedes. At Ferrari, Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz, who is moving to Williams, and will race alongside Charles Leclerc. Meanwhile, Mercedes has confirmed the promotion of Kimi Antonelli to fill Hamilton’s seat starting in the 2025 season.
In a separate matter, Hamilton responded to remarks made by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff regarding the concept of “shelf life” in Formula 1. These comments were featured in Matt Whyman’s book Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane. Wolff later clarified that his statement was taken out of context. When asked for his perspective, Hamilton said, “I don’t really have much [to say]. I spoke to Toto earlier. I haven’t been keeping up with the news, but I think he’s clarified his point. Toto has been massively supportive over the years, so it doesn’t really make any bearing on me.”
Despite recent challenges, Hamilton remains focused on finishing the 2024 season on a strong note as he prepares for a new chapter in his career with Ferrari.