Jenson Button Defends Lewis Hamilton Amid Las Vegas Struggles
Lewis Hamilton faced a tough Las Vegas GP, qualifying slowest and struggling in the race, calling it his "worst season ever." Former teammate Jenson Button defended him, citing qualifying issues and praising Hamilton's resilience through a difficult year, while acknowledging the mental toll of such challenges. Button anticipates Hamilton will bounce back quickly.
Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton faced a challenging Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, qualifying slowest and struggling with race pace after a pit stop, which led him to describe it as his "worst season ever." However, former teammate Jenson Button has come to Hamilton's defense, attributing the poor result to qualifying issues and emphasizing Hamilton's otherwise strong demeanor throughout a difficult season.
Why it matters:
Lewis Hamilton's performance in Las Vegas, particularly his candid emotional reaction, highlights the immense pressure and expectations on a driver of his caliber. Jenson Button's defense underscores the mental toll of a challenging season and the importance of resilience in F1, especially as Hamilton navigates the final stages of his career with Ferrari.
The details:
- Qualifying Woes: Hamilton qualified slowest in Q1 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a first in his 19-year F1 career on outright pace. This was partly attributed to confusion over timing and adverse track conditions.
- Race Day Struggles: Despite an initial good start, his SF-25's performance evaporated after pitting from hard to medium tires, leaving him stuck behind Nico Hulkenberg and finishing tenth, later elevated to eighth.
- Hamilton's Reaction: Post-race, Hamilton expressed feeling "terrible" and called it his "worst season ever," reflecting deep frustration.
- Button's Defense: Jenson Button acknowledged the impact of poor qualifying but praised Hamilton for his conduct throughout a tough year, stating this was the first time he'd seen Hamilton "seriously deflated."
- Mental Drain: Button highlighted the mental exhaustion that accumulates from a series of difficult races, even for top-tier drivers.
What's next:
Button believes Hamilton has the capacity to bounce back quickly from this setback. He noted that Hamilton is typically very good at turning around poor performances in the subsequent race. While Las Vegas was a tough moment, Button is optimistic that this single bad race won't weigh on him long-term, and he expects Hamilton to regroup and perform strongly in the upcoming races.