Breaking: Jeremy Clarkson slams Lewis Hamilton as… Read more
As the Formula 1 community gears up for the Japanese Grand Prix, the season’s third race, the spotlight intensifies on both on-track rivalries and off-track controversies. McLaren’s Lando Norris leads the Drivers’ Championship, holding an eight-point advantage over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Norris’s impressive performance includes a victory at the Australian Grand Prix and a second-place finish in Shanghai, where teammate Oscar Piastri clinched his maiden win. These results have propelled McLaren to a commanding position in the Constructors’ Championship, leaving competitors Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes striving to close the gap.
Off the track, media personality Jeremy Clarkson has reignited his critique of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Clarkson questioned Hamilton’s priorities during his inaugural appearance at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters. In his column for The Sun, Clarkson pondered, “What is Lewis now? A driver? Or a superstar?” He took issue with Hamilton’s media-focused approach, suggesting that the British driver appeared more concerned with orchestrated photo opportunities than immersing himself in the technical aspects of his new team. Clarkson highlighted Hamilton’s arrival in an SUV, his interactions with fans, and the applause from Ferrari engineers, implying that these actions were more about publicity than performance. He further noted Hamilton’s decision to reside in Milan, commuting to Maranello via helicopter, and speculated that Hamilton might struggle against teammate Charles Leclerc, who is well-integrated into the Ferrari setup and known for his speed.
This isn’t the first time Clarkson has voiced criticism of Hamilton. In November 2021, Clarkson lambasted Hamilton for being “too ‘woke’” and bringing politics into Formula 1. He remarked, “The problem is that Lewis has changed,” referring to Hamilton’s activism and initiatives such as urging Mercedes to paint their cars black in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and advocating for environmental and dietary changes. Clarkson suggested that while these actions might resonate on social media, they alienate fans in the “real world.”
Amidst these critiques, Lando Norris has been garnering attention not only for his on-track achievements but also for his commendable sportsmanship. In November 2024, during the Qatar sprint race, Norris voluntarily ceded his position to teammate Oscar Piastri, allowing Piastri to secure the win. This gesture was a reciprocation of Piastri’s earlier sacrifice in Brazil, which had aided Norris’s pursuit of the drivers’ title, ultimately won by Verstappen. Norris emphasized that this decision was premeditated and not influenced by team orders, reflecting McLaren’s ethos of teamwork and mutual respect between its drivers. Both Norris and Piastri highlighted their effective collaboration and absence of egos, underscoring a shared commitment to the team’s success over individual accolades.
Norris’s dedication to McLaren bore fruit in December 2024 when he led the team to its first Constructors’ Championship title since 1998 by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from pole position. Expressing immense gratitude and confidence, Norris declared his ambition to clinch the drivers’ championship in the following season. This victory marked McLaren’s first title of any kind since Lewis Hamilton’s drivers’ title in 2008. The race was fraught with tension, especially after Piastri collided with Verstappen at the start. Despite this setback, Piastri fought back to finish tenth. McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, endured the nerve-wracking race but celebrated the team’s historic win over Ferrari by 14 points. The contributions of both Norris and Piastri were acknowledged as pivotal in their triumph, elevating McLaren to joint-second place in the all-time Constructors’ titles with Williams, trailing only Ferrari.
Norris’s camaraderie with fellow drivers was also evident during the Singapore Grand Prix. After securing his third win of the season, narrowing the gap with Verstappen in the drivers’ standings, Norris experienced a lighthearted moment during a post-race interview with Sky Sports’ David Coulthard. Feeling dizzy, Norris was playfully doused with water by Coulthard, leading to an emotional embrace between the two. This incident highlighted the close-knit relationships within the F1 community and Norris’s approachable demeanor.
As the Japanese Grand Prix approaches, the dynamics within Formula 1 continue to evolve. McLaren’s resurgence, spearheaded by Norris and Piastri, has injected fresh energy into the championship battles. Meanwhile, off-track narratives, including Clarkson’s critiques and discussions about driver conduct and priorities, add layers of intrigue to the season. Fans and analysts alike will be keenly observing how these stories unfold on and off the circuit in the races to come.
