'Hamilton ignored Mercedes car's limit to win the Brazilian Grand Prix'
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Lewis Hamilton was able to finish first in the Brazilian Grand Prix after starting eleventh due to a five-place grid penalty for an engine change. Charles Leclerc thought that was a great achievement, but the Ferrari driver feels that the seven-time world champion completely ignored the Mercedes car's limit during that race.
The Brit was ready to catch up after his grid penalty and the disqualification caused by a DRS violation. He was able to overtake Max Verstappen 12 laps before the finish and took his 101st victory. Leclerc only feels that the Hamilton went way too far and ignored the limits of the car.
"Of course, Mercedes and Red Bull have a strong car at the moment but what Lewis has shown this weekend, I think is going over what a car can give. To win after everything that happened to him this weekend is a great achievement. I think that should be seen outside of the car performance," the Monegasque told f1i.com.
It's not just the car
The champion's victories are often criticised as he drives a very good car. Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz agrees with Leclerc, as he also thinks Hamilton has set a great performance. According to him, such a performance can best be a combination of a dominant car and a good driver. "Why can it not be both driver and car? You know, one thing doesn’t come without the other and the other doesn’t come without the one. So what they did was just an incredible performance, so I congratulate both Lewis and Mercedes."