Lewis Hamilton dismisses Red Bull rumors as zombies charge towards the finish line

Normally drivers and team staff are quite exhausted at the end of a season, but 2023 has taken things to a new level. With 22 rounds since March, this is the longest year in Formula 1 to date.

Las Vegas was particularly tough, with practices lasting until 4 a.m. and a race that started Saturday and ended Sunday.

The day after the checkered flag in Sin City, the teams were busy rebuilding their base in Abu Dhabi.

The paddock flew for at least 20 hours and had to adjust its time zone by 12 hours. After nine months on the road, people are walking around like zombies.

For next year, which will currently culminate in a three-way race between Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, riders have started asking organizers to give them a week off after the US night race.

In such a stressful situation, it is perhaps not surprising that the sport’s decision-makers are confronted with suggestions of forgetfulness.

Take Christian Horner, for example, who told the Daily Mail this week that Lewis Hamilton’s camp had been in contact about a Red Bull ride in 2024.

Speaking in Abu Dhabi yesterday, Hamilton denied that claim, saying: “No, I did not approach her.” “Christian sent me a message.”

Hamilton says he recently turned on his old phone and it was vibrating with hundreds of unread messages.

He revealed: “There was someone from Christian who asked to meet up and chat at the end of the season.” He didn’t say that (it was about driving for her). He just said we needed to catch up.

“It was quite late when I found the message. It was months later. I just answered it on my new phone.

The Mercedes driver, who signed a new two-year contract at the end of August, congratulated Horner on Red Bull’s dominant season and added that he hoped Mercedes would continue the fight until 2024. Horner apparently answered.

With Sergio Perez securing second place in the championship ahead of Hamilton with his third place in Las Vegas, the Mexican’s position at Red Bull appears to be safe for next year – or at least for the start of the season.

However, Hamilton suspects that this is less about securing the services of the seven-time world champion and more about putting the cat between the pigeons. “There are many people here who like to mention my name in many conversations, because they know that everything is going well.” That is causing a stir,” said the 103-time Grand Prix winner.

“If you’re a bit lonely and don’t get much attention, this is perfect.” Just say my name. He gets things moving.”

Hamilton added that while everyone wants to drive ‘the most dominant car of all time’, the RB19, he believes it is better to stay with Mercedes because of its ‘legacy’. He denied that he was afraid of encountering Max Verstappen in identical equipment, insisting: “I would love to race against Max in the same car.” That would be great. [But] I don’t think he wants me to be his teammate.’

This weekend we return to the scene of their most explosive battle of 2021 at Yas Marina. It would be poetic if Hamilton could take his first victory in two years here and take the overall victory from his Dutch opponent.

Formula 1 has had enough of F-bombs from bosses

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Ferrari grandfather Fred Vasseur were fined by the FIA ​​for swearing.

At the team’s press conference in Las Vegas, the two were quite productive when it came to the linguistic aspects. Wolff attacked a reporter for making negative comments about the condition of the track, while Vasseur was fed up with a loose drain cover in one of his cars.

The two leaders were told that their F-bombs were “unacceptable” and “the FIA ​​will not tolerate the use of such language in FIA forums by any relevant party”.

Meanwhile, US television network CBS has commissioned a new workplace comedy, with Günther Steiner, Formula 1’s most disgraced team boss, announced as executive producer.

According to the Hollywood website Deadline, the fictional series will be set in the sports world, with a ‘Steiner-like’ boss leading a team.

We’ll wait and see if it includes Steiner’s most famous catchphrase from Drive to Survive: “We look like a bunch of wankers.”