Jenson Button found it ‘sad to see’ Lewis Hamilton so ‘deflated’ after listening to the Mercedes driver’s dejected claims following the Sprint at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix.
Time is ticking down on the seven-time Formula 1 drivers’ champion’s career with the Silver Arrows. But Hamilton is also counting down the days until the 2024 season draws to a close having endured another frustrating outing in the F1 Sprint at the Qatar GP with his P6 finish.
Hamilton got a great launch to punish Max Verstappen’s poor start to the Qatar Sprint as the 39-year-old climbed from P7 on the grid. But sixth place proved to be the best the Mercedes star could manage, with Hamilton unable to contend with the pace of the cars ahead of him.
Jenson Button found Lewis Hamilton’s ‘deflated’ Qatar Sprint review ‘sad to see’
Mercedes had much more pace around the Lusail International Circuit than Hamilton would show. Teammate George Russell hounded Oscar Piastri throughout the 19-lap event in their fight for second, before Lando Norris gave up the Sprint win in Qatar to his McLaren partner.
Russell and Norris both had more speed in their pocket, with the former unable to mount a move on Piastri and the latter backing off to help his teammate. But Hamilton spent the F1 Sprint at the Qatar GP watching the gearbox of his 2025 Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 move to Ferrari
Only managing P6 with an uncompetitive drive following Hamilton storming to P2 in the Las Vegas Grand Prix left the Briton dejected. The Stevenage-born star had no answer for why it was such a bad day at the office, either, and cannot wait for his Mercedes career to be over.
“I have no clue,” a dejected Hamilton, shaking his head, told Sky Sports F1 (30/11, 15:22). “I don’t have an answer for you. It’s not been great. At this point, I really don’t care. I just want to get through the next couple of races, do my job and looking forward to the winter break.
“I woke up this morning and I think the most important thing is to leave with gratitude. I’m really, really grateful that I get to do what I love doing even when there’s days when I don’t love it as much. I’m really so lucky to be here amongst all these other amazing athletes.
“It’s painful when it doesn’t go well, no one likes losing. But that’s part of the journey.”
Hamilton’s comments drew Button to respond: “It’s sad to see the way he’s so deflated. But there are still two more qualifying sessions and two more races. I know Lewis pretty well and he bounces back very quickly, as we’ve seen in the past.”
George Russell is showing Lewis Hamilton that Mercedes have more to offer
Securing second place as Russell won the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix was Hamilton’s best result in eight rounds. Not since Hamilton inherited the Belgian Grand Prix victory as Russell was disqualified had the seven-time champion reached a podium in a Grand Prix or a Sprint.
But while Russell backed up his victory in Sin City with a podium in the Qatar Sprint, it was a day to forget for Hamilton once again. Russell was even 0.399 seconds faster than Hamilton in Sprint Qualifying to secure second place on the grid, whilst the latter could only claim P7.
READ MORE: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
Were it not for the 2024 Formula 1 season being a record-breaking 24-round calendar, then Hamilton would have already called time on his Mercedes days and Button would not have been left blue with his dejected comments. But the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will follow Qatar.
Leave feedback about this