Mercedes driver alleges Lewis Hamilton uses ‘psychological’ tricks in his races to ‘maximize his situation’

Mercedes development driver Esteban Gutierrez claimed that the famous ‘tire complaints’ are one of the many psychological tricks that Lewis Hamilton employs in a race.

Mercedes driver alleges Lewis Hamilton uses ‘psychological’ tricks in his races to ‘maximize his situation’

Lewis Hamilton and Esteban Guttierrez (via imago)

The development driver at Mercedes, Esteban Gutierrez, claimed that Lewis Hamilton’s tire complaints over the radio are a psychological trick. Gutierrez’s comments shine a light on the latest Grand Prix weekend at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Circuit, as Hamilton continuously voiced his concerns for his tires throughout the race. Hamilton, even after all his complaints about the tire wear, claimed the ‘fastest lap’ of the race on the last lap with a 42-lap old set of tires.

Esteban Gutierrez has revealed that this is one of the many ways that Hamilton maximizes his on-track performance. During a recent appearance on the F1 Nation Podcast, Gutierrez talked about it. 

Lewis is very strong in that kind of situation. I think he says some things to let it out of his system, it’s not necessarily meaning that’s what he believes, he’s just getting that out of his system.
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Gutierrez pointed out how the Mexican Grand Prix isn’t the first example of Hamilton’s tricks. 

He’s done that a couple of times in his career where sometimes he makes an indication and then he does totally the opposite. And he’s like mega and doing the fastest laps and incredible stints and I think today was a good example of that.

Lewis Hamilton claimed his first official podium after the Singapore Grand Prix at the Mexican GP as he finished P2 behind Max Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton’s Mexican Grand Prix weekend turnaround

Lewis Hamilton appeared to struggle on Friday, the opening day of the Grand Prix weekend in Mexico. The Mercedes driver even claimed that his W13 was a ‘nightmare’ to drive around the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Circuit as he talked about it on Friday. 

I have been struggling all weekend with the car. The car has been a bit of a nightmare to drive. It just doesn't like this track. It's going to be a real challenge in that car tomorrow. Brakes are overheating, it's going to be hard for us to battle. I don't know what kind of race they are going to have but it's going to be on the knife edge.
Lewis Hamilton (via Planet f1)
Lewis Hamilton (via Planet f1)

Hamilton was also observed stating his lack of confidence for the race as he, himself, claimed that his Mercedes would be nowhere close to the front. However, Hamilton was able to produce a driver worthy of a seven-time World Champion at the Grand Prix as he finished P2 behind Max Verstappen.

Hamilton’s comments on Friday might also be another example of the technique that Gutierrez described. The Briton’s pass on Charles Leclerc to gain P2 has been making rounds on social media for being in contention of being one of the best overtakes we’ve seen in 2023 as he equaled his best result in the season at a track where he complained throughout the Weekend.