Mercedes has explained why it appeared no one from the Formula 1 team waited under the podium at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix to congratulate Lewis Hamilton. After teammate George Russell crashed out on the final lap at Marina Bay last weekend, rival Hamilton claimed the final spot on the podium after the duo made an aggressive late switch to medium tires to fight for victory.
But when Hamilton stood on the podium with winner Carlos Sainz and runner-up Lando Norris, the television cameras saw the Ferrari and McLaren teams celebrating, but no one from Mercedes.
Photos also circulated on social media in which seven-time world champion Hamilton was greeted after the race by the competition’s mechanics and not by his own team.
Mercedes makes it clear: We were present!
However, Mercedes made it clear that “as many team members as possible” had turned out for Hamilton’s podium ceremony, but the narrative that Ferrari would end Red Bull’s perfect winning streak in 2023 meant directors switched the TV broadcast to something else concentrated.
Mercedes technical boss James Allison says: “Of course the team was under the podium to celebrate with Lewis. As many of the team as possible to get on the podium were there because we enjoy it. We love it “It’s standing there clapping and cheering for our driver.”
Allison adds that some employees had to stay behind to recover Russell’s crashed W14. Otherwise, the Mercedes crew was present only to get lost among a “very large number” of representatives from other teams.
Allison: Ferrari victory was bigger story
He continues: “A certain part of the team had to stay in the garage during this event because we had to retrieve George’s car from the marshals who took it back to the pit lane. But the rest of the team were down on the podium cheering all other.”
“But the cameras don’t show everything, and of course the big story was the first win this year for a team that isn’t part of Red Bull. So showing the overjoyed Ferrari faces was high on the list of things “It made for good television, and the McLaren people were also very happy.”
“There was a large number of all teams present at the awards ceremony. We were a big part of it, but perhaps not where the camera flashed during the podium celebrations.”