Just In: Fans Shaken to the Core as Lewis Hamilton Is Taken to a Medical Centre Amid a Shock Health Update
Just In: Fans Shaken to the Core as Lewis Hamilton Is Taken to a Medical Centre Amid a Shock Health Update
Lewis Hamilton has been given permission to skip his media duties after falling unwell after the Singapore Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver has been taken to the medical centre at the Marina Bay Circuit. Hamilton was seen crouching and looking to the floor in parc ferme after climbing out of his Ferrari and it has now been confirmed that he has sought medical attention.
Sky Sports F1 host Simon Lazenby confirmed that as he said live on air: “We were hoping to hear from Lewis Hamilton before we go, however, he got out of the car and he was feeling unwell so he has gone to the medical centre. He has been given dispensation not to go to the pen and face the world’s media.
Indeed, Hamilton did not appear in the media pen to speak to either TV or written journalists after the race. He finished the Grand Prix sixth, having slipped from third on the grid after making the wrong call not to pit for a second time.
Hamilton started off on a two-stop strategy but that was abandoned early on when it became clear that tyre degradation was not as bad as expected. But when the virtual safety car came out later in the race, it was an opportunity for him to grab a cheap change of rubber anyway.
Ferrari wanted to take the opportunity and called both of their drivers in. Charles Leclerc complied, pitting from second on the road, but Hamilton decided he did not want to do the same thing as his team-mate. So he stayed out, but paid for it later on as he struggled to find any grip.
He ended up slipping down to sixth place and was apologetic over the radio while on his lap back to the pit lane. He said: “Sorry boys, I let you down today with that strategy. My call lost us valuable points. I’ll try to make up for it [on the] next one. Great job with pit stops.”
There was no clue in his voice at that point that he was struggling. However, he was clearly feeling the heat and humidity having raced for 62 laps around the streets of Singapore when he climbed out of his car, seen on his haunches in parc ferme.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur had no update on his driver’s condition, but did make it clear that it had indeed been Hamilton’s decision not to pit behind the virtual safety car and that the team had intended to change both it’s drivers’ tyres at the same time.
The Frenchman said: “We called them both to pit and it would have been a P2 and P3, because we were P2 and P3 on track. Lewis missed the pit entry and, honestly, it’s a bit of a shame because he lost a podium. It was crystal clear on the radio. His performance was okay this weekend, we have to focus on the future.”
Max Verstappen won the race and Vasseur admitted they were powerless to stop him on the night. He added: “All weekend, Max was faster than us. But all weekend it was a strong performance from the team and the two drivers.
