Lewis Hamilton has a different view of most of the grid on the hot conditions at the Qatar GP; Watch the full United States GP weekend live on Sky Sports F1, with qualifying on Friday at 10pm, the sprint on Saturday at 11pm and then the Grand Prix at 8pm on Sunday
Last updated: 10/20/23 6:44 am
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Lewis Hamilton wants F1 to remain an ‘extreme sport’ and doesn’t want it to be made easier after concerns over Qatar heat
Lewis Hamilton wants F1 to remain an ‘extreme sport’ and doesn’t want it to be made easier after concerns over Qatar heat
Lewis Hamilton believes Formula 1 should race in conditions such as the extreme heat at the Qatar Grand Prix, encouraging the sport not to become “too soft”.
High temperatures, which exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, together with the extreme humidity and the fast layout of the Losail International Circuit, made the race in Qatar incredibly tough for the drivers.
Williams driver Logan Sargeant felt too ill to continue and withdrew from the race. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon said he vomited in his helmet during the race, while several drivers went to the medical center for checks afterwards.
Following claims of ‘dangerous heat’ by McLaren’s Lando Norris, the FIA said it would ‘take all reasonable steps to establish and communicate acceptable parameters within which competitions will be held’.
However, Hamilton, who retired from the race after a first-corner collision with Mercedes teammate George Russell, offered an alternative perspective.
“I’m going to be controversial as always,” Hamilton said ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix. “Obviously I didn’t drive the race so I didn’t feel the pain that the drivers felt. But clearly I’ve been here a long time.
“Malaysia was much hotter than that race and I know what it’s like to lose four or more kilos during the race and then barely be able to stand.
“My feeling about it is… this is an extreme sport. You don’t have marathon runners passing out after the marathon and saying you should make the marathon shorter.
“This is an extreme sport and we get paid very highly for what we do. From my perspective, if I don’t feel great at the end of the race, I just have to train harder and that’s how it’s been for me.” .”
The FIA has started an analysis of the situation in an attempt to make recommendations for future situations of ‘extreme weather conditions’.
Hamilton was referring to F1 in the 1980s and 1990s, with Nigel Mansell fainting as he pushed his car to the line at the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix.
“Personally I don’t want them to shorten the races and make it easier for us. I want it to be extreme,” he continued.
“I want to feel the difference, I want to feel pain in my body, I want to be able to, hopefully with that extra bit of training that you put in or that extra bit of dedication that you’ve had, you help achieve that extra lap and winning that race is what this is about.
“We have to be careful how we deal with changes. We have track limits and all these big drainage areas. In (Ayrton) Senna’s time you went over the curb, it’s grass and you pay the fine. It’s like, ‘let we don’t get too soft!’
“Of course, if I was in the race, I would have struggled to get out afterwards too. But I think that’s great. That makes it closer to what it used to be, when Mansell fainted after a race – this is extreme and we are supposed to be elite athletes and to be elite you have to push yourself to the limit.”
When can you watch the US GP and F1 Academy Final live only on Sky Sports F1?
Friday October 20
- 2.15pm: F1 Academy Exercise One
- 6:00 PM: US GP Practice One (session starts 6:30 PM)
- 7.55pm: F1 Academy practice two
- 9 p.m.: Build-up of qualifying for the American GP
- 10 p.m.: Qualifying for the American GP (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 11.30pm: F1 Academy qualifying
- (Saturday) 12:30: Ted’s Qualification Notebook
Saturday October 21
- 3.30pm: F1 Academy Race One
- 6 p.m.: build-up of the American GP Sprint Shootout
- 6:30 PM: American GP Sprint Shootout
- 9.15pm: F1 Academy Race Two
- 10 p.m.: build-up of the American GP Sprint
- 11 p.m.: American GP SPRINT (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
- (Sunday) 12:30 PM: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
Sunday October 22
- 3.30pm: F1 Academy Race Three
- 6:30 PM: Grand Prix Sunday: build-up to the American GP
- 8 p.m.: THE GRAND PRIZE OF THE UNITED STATES (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 10 p.m.: Checkered flag: response from the American GP
- 11pm: Ted’s notebook
Watch Formula 1 return to Texas this weekend for the United States Grand Prix and another sprint weekend live on Sky Sports F1 Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW