Sir Lewis Hamilton “often makes mistakes” but is usually able to get away with them because of the superiority of his Mercedes, ex-F1 racer Jan Lammers has claimed.
Hamilton made a clear mistake in the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with him going wide at the Tosa hairpin while trying to lap the Williams of George Russell.
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Speaking after the race, Hamilton owned up to his mistake, which he described as the first one he had made in a while.
“It wasn’t the greatest of days, the first time I’ve made a mistake in a long time – but I’m grateful I was able to bring the car home still,” Hamilton said.
“There was only one dry line and I guess I was in a bit too much of a hurry to get through everyone, came onto the inside and I could see it was wet and I was trying to stop but the thing wouldn’t stop and sent me off.
“A bit unfortunate but grateful we got to get going again, and to get some points for the team was really important today.
“I definitely didn’t think I’d be [on the podium] when I was facing that barrier.
“But I remember just sitting there looking at the barrier and I refused to think that the race was over, refused to believe that the race was done.
“I could have obviously turned the car off and got out – but I’m grateful I didn’t,” he added.
READ: ‘Max Can Do It’: Verstappen Is ‘Definitely’ Faster Than Hamilton, Marko Insists
However, Lammers disagreed that this was Hamilton’s first mistake in a long time.
“Hamilton often makes mistakes. His mistakes were never punished because he drove the best car and always got away with it,” Lammers told RacingNews365.
“Hamilton is often there when it matters, but certainly at Imola you saw that everyone was vulnerable due to the circumstances,” he added.
The seven-time World Champion benefitted from the race being red-flagged and recovered to P2.
And, as he set the fastest lap of the grand prix, Hamilton retained his lead in the Drivers’ Standings over Max Verstappen, though it currently stands at just a solitary point.