The first race in the history of the Miami Grand Prix in Formula 1 was decided after a fight for victory between Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, in addition to the fight for the last podium place with the other two cars from these teams, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Pérez.
However, during the safety car period, caused by the accident between Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris in the second half of the event, the interest went, as has happened on more than one occasion in this 2022 season, to the radio. by Lewis Hamilton.
The seven-time champion driver started sixth after a good qualifying on Saturday, but from the start of Sunday he was fighting with his W13 , with a touch included with Fernando Alonso at the start, where he fell to seventh place.
Little by little he recovered his rhythm, overtaking his teammate in 2007 at McLaren and Pierre Gasly’s AlphaTauri, climbing to a more logical place for his car, until the time for more action arrived.
With all the drivers running at the pace of the safety car, George Russell took the opportunity to make his pit stop, starting just behind Hamilton, whom he easily overtook on the restart. But the seven-time champion recovered to plant him, but it was of little use because he stayed behind the young Englishman when crossing the finish line.
On lap 43 the tension between Hamilton and Mercedes was palpable, when they had this conversation on the radio about the decision to stop to maintain their position and protect themselves from rivals lurking in fifth place.
– Hamilton : “You tell me, it’s your decision. I’m going to lose the position.”
– Peter Bonnington , British track engineer: “I recommend that you stay out, so we continue.”
– Hamilton : “I’m going to lose the position with Russell clearly.”
– Peter Bonnington : “Yes, of course.”
After getting out of the car, he spoke to the press and explained his point of view: “When you’re out there, you don’t have all the information. You don’t know where everyone is and you don’t have the image they have on the screen.”
“The moment you’re given the responsibility to make a decision, it feels like you’re gambling and I don’t like that,” Hamilton said. “So I said let them make the decision, but in a way they were unlucky.”
