David Croft says ‘vulnerable’ driver wasn’t ‘happy’ with team at Saudi GP

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Lewis Hamilton was annoyed with one decision by his Mercedes team during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft says.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton came home in ninth place in Jeddah after starting eighth on the grid.

And Croft learned that he wasn’t pleased with a Silver Arrows strategy call during the race.

When Lance Stroll crashed into the barriers and brought out the safety car, most of the field made their one and only pit stop.

Hamilton was one of four drivers to stay out, alongside the McLaren of Lando Norris, the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg and the Sauber of Zhou Guanyu.

While the move gained him track position, with the Briton promoted to third on the road behind Norris and net leader Max Verstappen, he knew he would have to fend off cars on fresh rubber.

He would then need to make his own stop eventually, and it would take significantly longer than stopping under the safety car.

Mercedes were aware that they would have to stack Hamilton behind teammate George Russell if they brought him in immediately, and that carried the risk of losing further places.

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez and future Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc got past Hamilton but he stoutly held off the McLaren of Oscar Piastri.

The 39-year-old came back into the race in ninth on soft tyres and couldn’t pass Norris, who was in turn trying to catch Ferrari stand-in Oliver Bearman.

David Croft says Mercedes move left Lewis Hamilton vulnerable

Speaking on lap nine after the initial pit stops had shaken out, Croft said that Hamilton had expressed frustration.

He apparently felt that he’d been left at the mercy of the cars around him on his older rubber.

Croft said: “I’m told Lewis Hamilton not overly happy with staying out there and not being called in. And you can understand that, because he’ll be feeling vulnerable, as I’m sure Lando Norris is, with where they’re sat currently.”

A lap later, co-commentator Karun Chandhok added: “I can see why Hamilton’s annoyed by this, because he’s got the downside of the dirty air from the cars in front.”

George Russell beats Hamilton again in Saudi Arabia

It’s been a difficult start to the new F1 season for Hamilton, who’s struggling to get to grips with his W15.

Hamilton finished 59 points and five places ahead of Russell in the 2023 drivers’ standings, but his younger teammate has had the upper hand so far.

Russell has out-qualified Hamilton at both events and finished sixth on Saturday to move onto 18 points, 10 clear in the intra-team battle.

Speaking after Russell led a fourth-row lock-out on Friday, Channel 4 pundit David Coulthard suggested that Hamilton looked like he was ‘mentally’ at Ferrari already.

Bearman came within a few-hundredths of dumping him out in Q2 on his Formula 1 debut as he deputised for the ill Carlos Sainz.