Subdued Hamilton praises Ferrari after ‘tricky’ weekend

Sao Paulo: Lewis Hamilton exited Interlagos on Sunday in a subdued manner following a weekend that was far from ideal for Ferrari, their third race in a disappointing triple-header. The seven-time champion concluded the race in ninth place, starting 20th on the grid, two places behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, after a rain-soaked contest where Ferrari were among the underdogs while Mercedes secured the constructors’ title.

Ferrari maintained their second position in the teams' standings, but with only three more points needed to clinch the world championship, Mercedes breezed to the title with minimal concern. This result pushed Hamilton down the drivers' title standings from third to fourth, behind the new champion Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, Max Verstappen of Red Bull, and George Russell of Mercedes. Leclerc, meanwhile, stands fifth.

Hamilton, who had started the weekend optimistic about resolving the tension between him and Leclerc, found his confidence misplaced. He acknowledged that it was a tough day and weekend for the entire team. He credited the mechanics for their commendable efforts in swapping the engines and optimizing the car's performance. Hamilton had engine troubles on Friday and had to replace two units on Saturday due to another failure during final practice. This led to his penalty and start from 20th position.

Despite a promising start in the race, a ballooning and overheating rear tyre eventually proved costly. Hamilton struggled in the slicks, losing a couple of places due to the wet conditions. He did not realize the track had become wetter in the first sector, passing the pit lane and entering turn one. This mistake cost him a few more places, though he maintained a positive demeanor, praising the team's efforts.