F1 CONFIDENTIAL: Why Lewis Hamilton still strikes fear into his opponents and how he can rediscover his best at Ferrari next year

It was neither likely nor appropriate that Lewis Hamilton would have lived up to his immediate reaction when he drove like a remnant of himself on the rainy Sao Paulo circuit two weeks ago.

An all-time great, he radioed after his thrashing to finish 10th, but was brutally exposed by rookies that he might retire, meaning he would sit out the final three races of his Mercedes career.

It was a relief to hear him say in Las Vegas, as reported on Friday’s back page, that he isn’t ready to cash in his chips. He fights on. As befits a sporting warrior.

No one watching him struggle with the conditions in Brazil could have been anything but perplexed, as he was one of the best wet drivers in recent memory and performed remarkably well below his best. Hamilton seemed stunned for a moment.

In that radio conversation he left his future up in the air. He stated it openly. “If this is the last time I get to perform, it’s a shame it wasn’t great, but I’m grateful,” he said.

Ahead of this weekend’s night race in Vegas, he has regained some of his luster after admitting he had indeed briefly considered taking a break. America works like a balm on him and we often find the LA-based 39-year-old here in his most relaxed state of mind. “The best I’ve felt in a while,” he declared.

The Englishman had a difficult weekend in Brazil but has enjoyed a break ahead of Las Vegas

Arriving in the United States, the Mercedes man has declared that he feels ‘the best he has done in a while’

You can see why thoughts of quitting might have crossed his mind. He leaves for Ferrari next year and his Mercedes dog days are grueling.

Some of his biggest admirers – including family and friends – believe that after disrespecting Mercedes by throwing away his future to the Italians, he is being deliberately held back.

The focus is certainly on George Russell. The car and the future are shaped around this 26 year old Englishman, rather than the man who won six world titles in the Silver Arrows. Lewis is not as loved where he is as he was.

But more than that? Would Mercedes harm themselves by hindering Lewis? They scoffed at the idea.

Of course, a little downtime might not have gone amiss. Lewis could then have restarted for his Ferrari swan song. But to have given up, even briefly, would have been to walk away, betraying all the competitive zeal that took him from a council estate in Stevenage to the company of Britain’s best-performing athletes.

The people around him, I am told, are trying to keep him upbeat during this slump. They have enough evidence of his resilience to serve as an example now. They could remind him of how he fearlessly took on reigning world champion Fernando Alonso in 2007 and, shaking off the Spygate scandal, defeated the Spaniard as a debutant.

About how he was bold enough to move from McLaren to Mercedes, the team that launched him. How he shook off criticism of his extravagant travels to complete one of the best qualifying rounds ever in Singapore six years ago.

From how he fought back in Brazil in 2021 to revisit his World Cup battle with Max Verstappen. He was penalized twice for taking over a replacement engine and committing another DRS violation. He overtook half the field, won by 10.4 seconds and reduced his Dutch rival’s lead to 14 points.

The focus now turns to George Russell – the team’s future and 13 years Hamilton’s junior

Mercedes scoffs at the idea that they are holding Hamilton back as his time comes to an end

He will soon be in the red of Ferrari, anchored by the charismatic team boss Fred Vasseur (left)

“A special moment,” Hamilton said afterwards. And that from serial force majeure. The list of his hard-fought battles goes on, even though the power of his Mercedes was often most instrumental in achieving unparalleled records.

Whatever his Ferrari years bring – faced with a final test that will see him plunder the glories of the past – if he declares he will continue in Silver, he will become one of the tireless champions of the past.

James Allison, technical chief at Mercedes, defines one of Hamilton’s key markers of genius as a desire to win at a weapons level. “He’s incredibly motivated,” Allison told me with surprise and admiration. “It’s burned into him.”

The fact that Mercedes has been underperforming over the past three seasons has largely denied Hamilton the opportunity he craved, and perhaps needed, to be his best.

But his time there is almost over. Take a few more deep breaths, Lewis.

Nevada in November

During a working lunch in brasserie Mon Ami Gabi, the sun recently shone brightly along the Strip. It was a warm afternoon when the fountains of Bellagio shot into the sky.

But by the time we left the track at midnight it was bitterly cold. My laptop read ‘0C, freezing’, even though it was probably a few degrees warmer.

This is Nevada in November. The cool conditions create unforeseen circumstances for tire supplier Pirelli, who use their three softest compounds for maximum grip in the event of a dip in the mercury. The long straight section of the Strip further cools the rubber.

Warming up new tires without overloading them, and avoiding lock-up in large braking zones, will be an important requirement. And then Max Verstappen wins.

It is almost freezing in Vegas, where Max Verstappen could win his last world championship

Preparing for Vegas

Sin City never sleeps. It is known that there are no clocks on the walls. The casino doors never close.

The F1 schedule fits in with the night-time culture. Not nearly as brutal as last year’s opening hours, but qualifying still ends at 11pm local time and the race at midnight.

The casino owners, who run the hotel, demand a late-night route, like boxing.

How to prepare? Lando Norris told me he is acclimating by sleeping in until 2 p.m. and taking a well-controlled program of melatonin sleeping pills to help improve his circadian rhythm.

I suppose it’s more sophisticated than a glass of red.

Lando Norris prepares for the race by sleeping in until 2 p.m. and taking sleeping pills

Happy birthday to Brawn

Former Ferrari talent Ross Brawn recently celebrated his 70th birthday, which falls on Saturday, at London’s One Marylebone with friends and family.

It was a lavish affair enjoyed by all, I was told. Even Elvis performed. Shades of Vegas there.

Former Ferrari and Brawn expert Ross Brawn recently celebrated his 70th birthday

The stars are in town

Let’s get ready to rumble! Legendary presenters Michael and brother Bruce Buffer will introduce the drivers to the grid here this weekend. A big musical spectacle before the race is also planned.

There is no show without Punch. Or, in sports in 2024, without Snoop Dogg. The American rapper, once present at the Olympic Games in Paris, is expected among the high-steppers.

Brad Pitt, who is filming the imaginative F1 movie, is also in town. Just like Gordon Ramsay, a franchise of his restaurant in the paddock.

Trump should stay away

Maybe if you’re the 47th elected president of the US you can click your fingers and make your way to Vegas on a whim, but I’m told that Donald Trump as he stands now beats the predictions for the second time in a month will defy – by staying away.

Celebrities will attend the Grand Prix in large numbers, but President-elect Donald Trump will not be there

History repeats itself

It is not the first time that a British driver has had to win in Las Vegas to stay in contention for the world championship.

In the 1982 decider at the Caesars Palace Grand Prix, John Watson would have taken the title had he finished first and Keke Rosberg seventh or lower. The Northern Irishman finished second and Rosberg fifth. Everywhere.

Norris now needs to win here, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, to have any chance of victory. It’s unthinkable.

Norris must win all three races to have the slightest chance of winning the world title

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem (pictured) has appointed a new race director for the run-in

New race director

A debut for new race director Rui Marquez.

The sudden departure of Neils Wittich – apparently sacked after a row with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem – leaves Marquez little time to adapt to the demands of overseeing the potentially demanding street circuit.

The drivers believe that Ben Sulayem is generally too stubborn. As the president, whose mandate from his global electorate is extensive, has once said, “I don’t care.”