Toto Wolff, the head of the Mercedes team, commended Lewis Hamilton for his sportsmanship during the Japanese Grand Prix, highlighting his willingness to let his teammate, George Russell, pass him after sustaining minor damage to his car in a collision with Charles Leclerc.
Despite the crack in his front-right endplate causing a loss of front downforce, Hamilton offered Russell the opportunity to overtake, sacrificing around a second but enabling Russell to improve his pace significantly.
This act of fair play wasn’t merely about conceding a position but demonstrated Hamilton’s dedication to understanding and addressing the performance issues he faced.
Throughout the race, Mercedes made adjustments to Hamilton’s front wing angle during pit stops, ultimately resulting in improved lap times. As the race progressed and both Mercedes drivers switched to medium tires, Hamilton closed the gap to Russell, who was engaged in a battle with Oscar Piastri ahead.
