P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Hamilton warns Mercedes of “critical” decisions and sets huge development target
Max Verstappen won his 13th race of the season at Suzuka, securing the constructors’ championship for Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton finished in fifth place, a significant distance behind Verstappen. Hamilton also found himself lagging behind the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who completed the podium. Hamilton acknowledged that Mercedes now face crucial decisions as they strive to reduce the gap to the front. He stated that he and George Russell have provided input to the team, and they need to look at what McLaren has done and follow their direction. Despite his challenges during the race, Hamilton scored the most points for the team and is determined to hold on to second place in the constructors’ championship. He emphasized the importance of the decisions made during this period and expressed his faith in the team’s ability to succeed. Hamilton also admitted that the car felt similar to last year, which makes progress more challenging.
Source: Crash
