Toto Wolff, the team principal, stated that George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were experiencing “borderline heatstroke” following the Singapore Grand Prix. The Mercedes pair did not show up for the Marina Bay Street Circuit’s post-race press conferences.
With cockpit temperatures as high as fifty degrees and drivers losing up to four kilograms of liquid body weight, the Singapore Grand Prix is considered one of the hardest races of the year.
After their outing in Marina Bay, Hamilton and Russell were declared too ill to speak to the media, but the harsh conditions on Sunday overcame them. “Unfortunately, neither George nor Lewis will be attending the media pen this evening as they recover from the exertions from this evening’s race,” Mercedes said in a statement following the race.
Later, team principal Wolff provided additional clarification, providing an understanding of the severe difficulties his drivers were encountering. He stated, “They had water, but they didn’t feel well—borderline heatstroke or something like that.”
“They would not have been permitted to visit the [press] enclosure. There was no animosity or frustration. All we had to do was have the doctors accompany them. However, they’re all OK.
