Lewis Hamilton fumes about Mercedes’ strategy as he chases down Max Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton goes undercover to inspire school children

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Lewis Hamilton has been left fuming at his Mercedes team after accusing the team of giving him the wrong tyre during the Brazillian Grand Prix. Speaking in code, Hamilton was asked during the race which tyre he would like to change to, the medium or the hard tyre as he chased down Max Verstappen in Brazil.

“Check colour switch movement. That’s what tyre I want mate,” said Hamilton across the radio to Peter Bonnington, his Mercedes race engineer.

Hamilton pitted from the lead for his second stop in the latter part of the race, seemingly hoping his team would change his hard tyres for the mediums.

But the team changed the seven-time world champions tyres to another set of hards to take him to the end of the race.

But Hamilton was heard fuming over the radio, saying he had asked for the medium tyre, presumably to try and pull out an undercut on his main title rival Verstappen.

Bonnington replied: “It’s a long stint and the wear was high on that medium.”

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“Is the undercut not powerful,” came the message from Hamilton as his team-mate Valtteri Bottas replied: “I think we just threw away an easy one-two.”

But the team seemingly made the right choice, as Hamilton took the fastest lap back on the first full lap on his new tyres, with Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle adding: “The 1:12.1 that Lewis just delivered up is a pretty powerful statement,” to Red Bull boss Horner while talking from the pit wall.

Despite a controversial incident between Verstappen and Hamilton moments later as the pair nearly collided into Turn 4, the seven-time world champion swept past Verstappen to take the lead of the race.

However, both teams were unhappy about the original incident between the fierce title rivals, which saw the pair racing wheel-to-wheel, with Hamilton pushed wide into the corner.

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The FIA noted the incident between the pair but decided no investigation was needed.

“Michael, that is all about let them race,” says Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley in a radio message to FIA race director Michael Masi about that incident with Hamilton.

Meanwhile, as Hamilton was told it wouldn’t be looked into further by the stewards, Hamilton replied sarcastically:”Of Course.”

Verstappen leads the way by 21-points over Hamilton with just four races remaining. 

After Brazil, Formula One heads to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi for the season finale. 

Hamilton is looking to take an eighth world title with Verstappen keen to take a maiden title for Red Bull.

It would be Red Bull’s first title since 2013 when they took the world title alongside Sebastian Vettel.

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