Lewis Hamilton kept things busy when he suddenly disappeared from the scene shortly after the lost title fight in Abu Dhabi. Robert Doornbos describes this radio silence as “a form of requesting attention” and states that Mercedes “doesn’t actually have its driver under control”.
Hamilton was heading for his eighth world title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but saw how a safety car – and the subsequent decisions of the race management – threw a spanner in the works. Not Hamilton, but Max Verstappen crossed the line as the winner and thus the world title came to the name of the Red Bull driver. Hamilton was deeply disillusioned with the result and the decisions of the FIA, after which he decided to withdraw. The Briton stopped giving interviews and rarely appeared in public. Many thought that Hamilton might retire early, but former Formula 1 driver Doornbos thinks it was purely “a form of attention seeking”.
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Mercedes “actually not in control of Hamilton”
In his most recent column for TopGear, writes Doornbos that he doubts whether Hamilton’s sudden radio silence was really good for Mercedes’ preparations for the new Formula 1 season. “They have just come out of a winter break in which Hamilton has done everything at ease. I do not know whether that is a good preparation for the team and I think it all offers some unrest,” said the former driver of Red Bull Racing, among others. know. According to Doornbos, Mercedes has let the strings loose too much. “They don’t actually have Hamilton under control.”
Doornbos: Hamilton asked for attention
He continues: “As a team you want to be able to determine where and when your driver is somewhere. But I don’t think this is very professional. It doesn’t take away from his skills, and he is and will remain a legend. I am certainly happy that he is back.” is, but the way in which I think it does require some form of attention.”
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