Last Updated on December 28 2023, 9:09 am

During a recent Q&A session with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and reserve driver Mick Schumacher, Hamilton revealed that he once feigned illness – a ‘sickie’ – to avoid the rigours of pre-season testing with Mercedes.

This revelation came during a light-hearted discussion where Hamilton also humorously questioned if his teammate, George Russell, was employing a similar tactic.

 

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The revelation came in the context of George Russell’s absence from a Mercedes event at the team’s Brackley headquarters. Russell, who is reportedly unwell, was the subject of playful speculation from Hamilton. Wolff was quick to clarify that Russell was genuinely ill and assured that the younger driver wasn’t employing any of Hamilton’s past tactics.

Hamilton’s reaction to the news was one of jest, as he joked about being outdone by Russell in avoiding testing.

“I was wondering!” said Hamilton,

 “In the past I have done that to miss the test days, because I just generally don’t like test days,

“So yesterday when I heard that he was sick, I was like, ‘Ah, he’s one-upped me, he’s gone to another level’.”

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When Hamilton played hooky

The exact instance when Hamilton pulled this ‘sickie’ remains unknown, leading to fan speculation about the possible occasion. Notably, Hamilton was reported ill during a test day at the Circuit de Catalunya in 2015, an event that some fans now see in a new light following his revelation.

Humorous admissions aside, Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate Russell face a challenging future. The 2023 season has seen Mercedes struggle with consistency, with both Hamilton and Russell trailing their rivals, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen.

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Hamilton’s Covid year

2020, a year marked by the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Formula One world was hit by a major development when seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19.  The diagnosis forced him to miss the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, a rare absence for the driver who has been a dominant force in the sport.

The news broke early in the week leading up to the Bahrain Grand Prix. Hamilton, fresh from winning his seventh world title, announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

The driver said he had experienced mild symptoms but was otherwise in good health. However, in line with the sport’s strict health protocols, Hamilton was immediately quarantined in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the health authorities and the FIA, Formula One’s governing body.

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Russell’s opportunity

Hamilton’s Covid absence from the race had a significant impact on the Mercedes team. His diagnosis meant that Mercedes had to quickly find a replacement driver for the upcoming race. They chose George Russell, a rising star from Williams, to take Hamilton’s place, leading to a much-discussed debut in a leading car for Russell.

Russell impressed everyone by coming very close to winning the Sakhir Grand Prix on debut.

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Russell’s ambitious target for next season

For George Russell, next season is about more than team success; it’s about personal ambition. The former Williams driver, in his second season with Mercedes, has set his sights on outperforming Hamilton.

In a statement to Motorsport Magazine, Russell acknowledged the psychological challenges he faced last season and expressed his determination to outperform his team-mate.

“No doubt, it’s been probably the toughest season I’ve ever had psychologically,” Russell told Motorsport Magazine.

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“Bouncing back from missed opportunities, missed results, mistakes. I think this is when you push yourself.

“And probably when I sit through my championship years [junior formulae – Ed],

“I probably wasn’t being pushed as much as I’m pushing myself now. I’m purposely trying to push myself further and beyond, and I’m not satisfied with just being on par with my team-mate in qualifying or whatever it may be.

“Or [2022 when] we were very even across the whole season. I want to be ahead. And that’s what I’m pushing myself for.”

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MORE F1 NEWS: Michael Schumacher update from his brother

A decade has passed since the tragic skiing accident that changed the life of Formula One legend Michael Schumacher forever. His brother, Ralf Schumacher, who competed alongside Michael in F1, recently opened up by speaking to BILD, the German newspaper recently.

Michael Schumacher, a name synonymous with unparalleled success in Formula One, experienced a life-changing event far from the racetracks he dominated. On 29 December 2013, a skiing accident in the French Alps drastically changed the course of…READ MORE ON THIS STORY