close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • IT
  • ES-MX
  • US
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US

Hamilton demands answers from Mercedes mid-race over Suzuka strategy - full transcript

Photo: © LAT Images

Hamilton demands answers from Mercedes mid-race over Suzuka strategy - full transcript

Lewis was fuming!

Lewis Hamilton was left incensed after losing more than 20 seconds to Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas over the first half of the Japanese GP.

While Bottas was able to make a superb start to take the lead off the line in Suzuka, Hamilton could not get by Sebastian Vettel and was touring in third.

With Vettel and Bottas committing to two-stop strategies, Mercedes opted to put Hamilton on a one-stop.

This was something the champion took great exception to as race engineer Pete Bonington explained the move mid-race.

PB: "So you're currently P3. Vettel 10 seconds ahead. Deg looks very high, so one stop will be a struggle. Let's chase Vettel down."

LH: "Valtteri, how far?"

PB: "Valtteri's nearly got a full pit stop."

LH: "How have I lost that much time?"

PB: "Deg is much higher, deg is much higher. And we lost time behind Vettel."

LH: "I'm out of the race now. If deg is that massive why didn't you give me hard tyres? Can you guys explain a bit please. I'm basically out of the race with a pitstop behind."

PB: "So Vettel is guaranteed a two-stop, so we can see how this comes to us."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

George Russell issues emotional Toto Wolff statement amid Mercedes struggles

George Russell issues emotional Toto Wolff statement amid Mercedes struggles

  • 5 minutes ago
Honda chief reveals Aston Martin 'not satisfied' as engine giants call for more time

Honda chief reveals Aston Martin 'not satisfied' as engine giants call for more time

  • 1 hour ago
F1 Croatian Grand Prix race plans approved

F1 Croatian Grand Prix race plans approved

  • 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton suffers title blow as George Russell reveals injury incident

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton suffers title blow as George Russell reveals injury incident

  • 2 hours ago
F1 TV broadcaster announces FREE races in 2026 season

F1 TV broadcaster announces FREE races in 2026 season

  • 3 hours ago
F1 star in furious confrontation with NASCAR driver after US debut

F1 star in furious confrontation with NASCAR driver after US debut

  • Today 14:56

Just in

18:58
George Russell issues emotional Toto Wolff statement amid Mercedes struggles
17:57
Honda chief reveals Aston Martin 'not satisfied' as engine giants call for more time
16:57
F1 Croatian Grand Prix race plans approved
16:12
F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton suffers title blow as George Russell reveals injury incident
15:57
F1 TV broadcaster announces FREE races in 2026 season
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton suffers title blow as George Russell reveals injury incident F1 News Today

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton suffers title blow as George Russell reveals injury incident

2 hours ago
Honda chief opens up on Aston Martin partnership and why 2026 has been a major struggle Aston Martin

Honda chief opens up on Aston Martin partnership and why 2026 has been a major struggle

Today 09:55
Williams F1 boss claims Albon and Sainz would tell him if they were going to leave Williams

Williams F1 boss claims Albon and Sainz would tell him if they were going to leave

Yesterday 22:57
How George Russell injured himself during Mercedes F1 celebration George Russell

How George Russell injured himself during Mercedes F1 celebration

Yesterday 19:57
Ontdek het op Google Play
x