Hamilton brands Canadian GP ‘one of the worst races I’ve driven’

Lewis Hamilton achieved on Sunday in Montreal his best result of the 2024 season, yet the Mercedes driver described his run to P4 in the action-packed event as “one of the worst races” he’s ever driven.

After starting seventh, Hamilton found himself stuck behind Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso until lap 24 of 70 when an off by Williams’ Logan Sargeant triggered the first safety car of the afternoon and allowed the Mercedes driver to move ahead of his Aston Martin rival.

Hamilton remained fifth until the closing stages of the race when he managed to gain the upper hand over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, pressing on thereafter and also passing the McLaren of Oscar Piastri to position himself within the top three with just five laps to go.

But Russell fought back and, relying on his medium tyres versus his teammate’s hard rubber, eventually managed to recoup his spot on the podium, which left Hamilton a creditable fourth.

• Read also: Russell reckons mistake against Piastri ‘cost us at least P2’

But the seven-time world champion was unimpressed with his own efforts and how events had panned out.

"Over the weekend, it was a really poor performance from myself,” he admitted.

“Yesterday, some other things came into it but [it was] mostly myself and then today, just one of the worst races I have driven, lots of mistakes.

"But of course, if I had qualified better, I would have been in a much better position. So it is what it is, so I will go back to the drawing board."

While personally disappointed with his weekend, Hamilton acknowledged Mercedes’ undeniable progress which the team owes to its tireless efforts but also to the development of a new front wing which has enabled the Brackley squad to unlock more performance from its W15 silver arrow.

“A big thank you to everyone back at the factory because it is becoming a car we can fight with,” continued Hamilton. “That is the real positive going into the next part of the season.

"I know we have some more upgrades, hopefully, coming along the way. So it is going to be a close battle and if I get my head on right, I will get better results at some stage.

"I think this weekend, the car was capable of winning. That's why it is not such a great feeling. But we will take the points and keep trying."

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