Mercedes’ star driver Lewis Hamilton, had a difficult season in 2023. He really hoped to end the deadlock of winless seasons. But he remained winless in 2023 as he was in the previous season. Anyhow, the Red Bull drivers ended the season with a one-two finish. Hence, the third place was up for grabs for the rest of the drivers. Hamilton secured that spot at the end. Later, in the FIA Gala ceremony for giving prizes, he received the P3 prize. However, he ended up gifting the award to a fan.
Now, the whole F1 world is wondering if that was an act of protest. Recently, the FIA harassed Susie and Toto Wolff with a “Conflict of Interest” investigation. Apparently, it did not sit well with the seven-time champion. He vehemently criticized the governing body. That’s why the fans and experts wonder if Hamilton intentionally left the trophy at the Gala.
Mercedes Confirms That Lewis Hamilton Didn’t Gift The P3 Award To Any Fan
Recently, a fan on X claimed he possessed the award as he was in attendance at the ceremony. The fan’s name is Nihad Nesirli. He claims that Hamilton gifted him the award in Baku at the Gala. The fan sounded pretty happy to have the award at his home. However, Mercedes later provided a statement mentioning that Lewis Hamilton did not leave the P3 award as a “Gift” as there are such speculations. Hamilton only accepted the offer to let the officials take the award to the Mercedes team.
I AM IN TEARS😭😭😭 why is this winter break more entertaining than the actual season?? pic.twitter.com/2XHn0K3QlD
— leo🐋 (@formuleo_) December 10, 2023
Perhaps it has been a big misunderstanding as to who Hamilton thought was an official was actually just a fan. As per PlanetF1, Mercedes confirmed that Hamilton did not gift his trophy to any fan as a memento. Later, the fan deleted the previous post and posted a new one. The fan explained he didn’t steal anything. It was a big misunderstanding as he asked Hamilton if he could take the trophy when the Briton put the award on the table. Clearly, Lewis Hamilton made a mistake in thinking he was the FIA official in charge of the award.
Can Mercedes Provide A More Reliable And Competitive Car To The Seven-Time Champion Next Season?
Moreover, the car has not helped Hamilton’s cause. However, the seven-time champion was able to finish at P3 this year. Albeit, it is not a bad performance at all, it is not where the most successful F1 racer of all time wanted to end. The Mercedes star wishes to win his coveted eighth title. However, it seems really difficult at present. Lewis Hamilton, along with his team have been really struggling since the cost cap era began. The Silver Arrows dominated the previous era of turbo-hybrid generation.
Currently, the Red Bull team has the upper hand. They are dominating the grid, leaving no chance for their rivals to fight for the titles. Clearly, they have the fastest car and RB19 has been arguably the fastest F1 car there ever has been. On the other hand, Mercedes had been in an evolving stage with their W14 car in 2023. They certainly made a lot of upgrades throughout the year. Albeit it became more reliable to drive in the later stages of the year, Hamilton or his teammate George Russell could not clinch a victory.