Martin Brundle Counters Lewis Hamilton’s ‘Breeze’ Claim with ‘No Doubt’ Theory

Martin Brundle has challenged Lewis Hamilton’s assertion that he would have “breezed” to victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix if he had started higher on the grid. According to Brundle, George Russell undoubtedly had the better pace and would have stepped up his performance if needed.

Hamilton: “If I’d Done My Job, It Would Have Been a Breeze”

After a difficult Brazilian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton bounced back in Las Vegas with a second-place finish, as Mercedes secured a dominant one-two victory led by George Russell.

Despite his strong recovery drive from 10th on the grid, Hamilton insisted that a better qualifying performance would have made the race an easy win for him.

“If I’d done my job yesterday, it would have been a breeze today [winning],” said Hamilton.
“But it’s okay. I had fun coming from the back, starting from 10th, and the team did a fantastic job.”

He also highlighted the Mercedes car’s improved performance, saying:

“We don’t know why we were so quick this weekend, but that’s the best the car’s ever felt. I’m grateful to have been part of bringing it to this point.”

Martin Brundle: “George Russell Had No Doubt Better Pace”

Brundle, a former F1 driver and current Sky F1 pundit, disagreed with Hamilton’s “breeze” claim, emphasizing Russell’s ability to increase his speed if needed.

In his post-race column, Brundle wrote:

“Hamilton looked fast, albeit with a few trips up the escape road here and there. Unfortunately, he had two poor laps in final qualifying, with the back end stepping out, leaving him to start 10th.”

“He said post-race that had he started at the front, he would have breezed the race, which surprised Russell a little. There’s no doubt Russell had more pace if he’d needed it.“

While countering Hamilton’s claim, Brundle acknowledged the Briton’s stellar recovery drive:

“It was a standout drive from Lewis, picking his way through serious contenders to finish just seven seconds behind Russell at the flag.”

Hamilton’s performance earned him the Driver of the Day award, with fans recognizing his efforts to answer critics questioning his ability.

Proving He’s Ready to Lead Mercedes

Russell delivered a near-flawless performance in Las Vegas, leading almost the entire race and securing a seven-second victory over Hamilton.

Brundle praised the young Briton for showcasing his potential to lead the team in the future:

“You have to feel sorry for George Russell, who qualified impressively on pole position and dominated the race. He was so far ahead for most of the 50 laps that we hardly saw him due to the battles behind.”

“It was an assured performance from George, who is looking very much like the real deal in terms of leading Mercedes into the future.”

A Mystery Performance Boost in Las Vegas

Mercedes stunned the grid with their dominance throughout the weekend, leading every session on a cold, slick surface. However, the team admitted they were unsure of the exact reasons behind their success.

Brundle noted:

“The car simply worked on the cold surface, and the team had the good grace to admit they weren’t entirely sure why, which is consistent with the unpredictability of that car this year.”

Conclusion

While George Russell proved his mettle with an assured victory, Lewis Hamilton’s recovery drive showcased his skill and determination. As Mercedes heads into the final races of the season, all eyes are on Russell’s leadership and Hamilton’s upcoming move to Ferrari, marking the end of an era for the Silver Arrows.