As Lewis Hamilton endured a frustrating 10th-place finish at the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix, motorsport personality Jeremy Clarkson didn’t hold back, delivering a stinging critique of the seven-time champion’s performance. In his column for The Sun, Clarkson suggested that Hamilton’s age and diminishing abilities are to blame for his underwhelming results, as he trailed teammate George Russell by 27 seconds at Interlagos.
“Brazil GP: A Tale of Two Mercedes”
Hamilton’s weekend in Sao Paulo was marked by struggles. Failing to progress to Q3 in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix qualifying sessions, Hamilton ultimately limped to a 10th-place finish in a race where balance issues plagued his car.
In stark contrast, George Russell started on the front row, led early laps, and finished fourth, reinforcing the growing narrative that the younger Brit is outperforming his senior teammate. This marks the 16th time in 21 races this season that Russell has outqualified Hamilton, a glaring statistic in what has been a difficult season for the veteran driver.
“It’s devastating to have these bad races,” Hamilton admitted after the race. “The car’s just been bad all weekend. One of the cars was working better, so there’s potential, but we have to find out what’s wrong.”
“Clarkson: Hamilton Is ‘Past His Prime'”
Clarkson, never one to mince words, used Hamilton’s struggles as a springboard to praise Max Verstappen’s dominance and question the 39-year-old’s place in Formula 1.
“We learned two important things during last weekend’s Grand Prix in Brazil,” Clarkson wrote. “First of all, Verstappen is one of the all-time greats. He may even be the greatest driver we’ve ever seen. And second, Hamilton is past his prime.”
Taking a swipe at Hamilton’s criticisms of his Mercedes car, Clarkson pointed out Russell’s front-row start as evidence that the car wasn’t entirely to blame.
“Of course it’s possible that because Lewis is moving to Ferrari next year, the team are filling his fuel tank with lemon barley water instead of petrol. But that seems unlikely. It’s far more probable that he’s now too old.”
“Verstappen’s Masterclass Highlights Hamilton’s Decline”
While Hamilton battled to stay in the points, Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass from 17th on the grid, storming to victory with a 19.4-second margin over Lando Norris. The win brought Verstappen closer to securing his fourth consecutive championship, which he can clinch at the Las Vegas GP if he maintains at least a 59-point lead over Norris.
Clarkson seized on Verstappen’s performance to underscore Hamilton’s struggles, contrasting the Dutchman’s brilliance with the fading form of the seven-time champion.
“Hamilton’s Reflection: Searching for Answers”
Hamilton cut a dejected figure post-race, acknowledging the difficulties of a challenging second half of the season. With his impending move to Ferrari in 2025, his tenure with Mercedes appears to be winding down in frustration.
“I don’t care if I finish ahead of George or behind George,” Hamilton said. “I just want to keep the car out of the wall and try to score points for the team.”
“The Final Stretch of 2024”
As Hamilton looks ahead to the final three races of the season, the question looms: is the veteran’s time at the pinnacle of motorsport coming to an end? Clarkson’s sharp critique may echo the doubts of many, but Hamilton’s legacy as one of the greatest drivers in F1 history remains untouchable.
For now, the focus shifts to Las Vegas, where Verstappen aims to seal another championship, and Hamilton hopes to salvage a difficult year with a strong finish.
