“Something Like That Really Taints It”: Lewis Hamilton Lashes Out at FIA for Tarnishing Hard Fought Success

The story goes that the red carpet had been laid out for the United States Grand Prix. A seven-time world champion was set to avenge his winless streak. Starting stronger and better than his rival, Lewis Hamilton went elbows out against the emerging McLaren and Max Verstappen. However, designed with the genius of Adrian Newey, Verstappen drove past the front field in the RB19. But Hamilton was hot on the Dutch driver’s heel. Finishing just shy of two seconds, the Briton redeemed himself and posed a new challenge to the Red Bull camp. However, before the victory champagne could even stop bubbling, Hamilton was stripped off his podium. The infringement bells had called his name again.

The weekend at Austin saw the fourth sprint race of the season. With one practice session, teams moved quickly on their heels, scrambling to bolt up their liveries up to the mark and according to the regulations. However, Mercedes and Ferrari failed by a few millimeters. Needless to say, a breach by millimeters transitioned to a huge loss for the outfits, especially for Lewis Hamilton. The Briton, therefore, not holding back his criticism of the governing body.

Like a phoenix he rose, but disqualification watered Lewis Hamilton’s efforts

Lewis Hamilton expressed his happiness with the upgrades of the W14 since fighting the car in the Japanese Grand Prix. We all remember the “We know the car is bad Lewis, please drive it.” However, the outfit has come far, far away from their porpoising issues at the beginning of the season. But the Briton’s happiness did not last long as a plank height issue became his new nemesis.

Expressing his disapproval, he said, “Every time we take steps forward within the sport, something like that really taints it. Hopefully, they’ll learn a little bit for the future rather than checking everybody and over 50% of the cars failing. Instead, maybe, if we are having a sprint race, we should be able to change the skid or the floor or whatever it is on Saturday night, so on Sunday, you don’t have this ridiculous kind of event afterwards.”

All the constructors are barred from touching their liveries in parc ferme conditions. However, in a sprint weekend, with one practice session, extracting accurate data becomes a hefty task. Moreover, out of all the cars inspected, half failed the regulations. This poses the question, “Why weren’t more cars checked?” And Lewis Hamilton believes the governing body must mend its inconsistencies.

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton Takes Up Taskmaster’s Job to Crack the Whip at Mercedes Amid Toto Wolff’s Absence

Expressing his discontentment with FIA, Hamilton detailed how his joy was torpedoed by the late news

From Hamilton’s celebratory ice bath to ice-cold punishment by FIA

The story continues as Hamilton, livid with the closing gap to Red Bull, prepares for the post-race driver shenanigans. After all, he had finished P2 in the race with a gap of merely two seconds. With a few more laps, the Briton could have easily taken the lead and ended his longest winless streak. However, in a climactic twist of events, his cold bath was replaced by the icy disqualification dished out by the FIA. 

He opened up about how he came to know about his misfortune. He said, “I had just come out of the press conference. I got back and was about to get into the ice tub when Toto [Wolff] came down and told me.” One has to feel bad for the seven-time world champion.

However, the Briton got to live as the second finisher of the race for a few hours. He confessed, “Obviously devastated after such a good day and a great race. I didn’t find out fully until I was back home [in Austin]. A bit deflated, but still lots of positives to take from it.” Although Hamilton was left frustrated by FIA’s judgment, he now looks forward to his redemption arc in Mexico. 

WATCH THIS STORY | Are Lewis Hamilton & Mercedes Exaggerating Their F1 Struggles in 2023?

One of the favorites to win at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit seems like Lewis Hamilton has taken the setback in stride.