Mercedes drivers too exhausted to take part in post Singapore GP media duties

The Singapore GP is known for being a grueling race due to the high temperatures and extreme humidity at the Asian venue.

Mercedes started their Singapore weekend massively behind but managed to improve the car for qualifying, Hamilton going third fastest behind polesitter Lando Norris and second-placed Max Verstappen. Russell qualified fourth.

But it seems that when you spend all the race fighting a slow car and against the odds, you get even more exhausted, which was the case for Hamilton and Russell, who did not join their fellow drivers in the Formula 1 media pen after the race at the Marina Bay Circuit on Sunday.

Mercedes issued a brief statement that said: "Unfortunately neither George nor Lewis will be attending the media pen this evening as they recover from the exertions from this evening's race."

However, both drivers gave their views on the race later in Mercedes' post race report, starting with Russell, who said: "After a very difficult Friday, we would have likely taken P4 in the Grand Prix.

"Our pace in Qualifying however made us believe we could achieve more," he added. "Today was no doubt a difficult race for us, both challenging in terms of our pace but also physically. The McLarens were very impressive and in another league to us, whilst Max [Verstappen] had the legs on us.

"We were able to hold off the Ferrari of Charles [Leclerc] in the closing stages, so it was very much an evening of damage limitation. Given the pace of the car, that was the very best we could have achieved.

"We have a lot of work to do in the coming weeks to understand why we've struggled to challenge at the front in the past few races," he admitted. "We haven't been as competitive since the summer break and that is frustrating.

"We will work hard to get on top of it though and hopefully the updates we bring to the next race in Austin will help us take a step closer to the front," Russell concluded.

Mercedes tried something different with Hamilton starting him on the Soft tyres with the hope he would make up places at the start. That did not transpire, and the Briton had to pit earlier than others and was on the back foot.

"It is hard to describe the range of emotions you feel when we have a difficult race like that," the seven-time F1 champion commented.

"This year continues to be a testing one for everyone, but we are all pushing as hard as we can. We don't always get things right and that was the case today with our strategy. We all head into the weekend, and every decision we take, with the right intentions and sometimes it doesn't work out. It can be frustrating, but we are all in this together.

"We have lost some form to the leaders in the past few races and we're working hard to figure out why that is," Hamilton continued. "We will do what we do best though and that is to come together as a team, analyse and refocus ahead of Austin.

"We will head there with energy, drive, and determination. It's another opportunity to show what we can do when we get things right and to hopefully take a step forward with the car," he concluded.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff summed up the race, saying: "That was a really painful evening for us. P4 and P6 is not a good result after starting P3 and P4.

"Our strategy decisions in the race were determined by our experiences in the past here where track position is crucial," he added. "We thought that the Soft tyre would give Lewis an advantage at the start but that turned out to be the wrong decision.

"With our challenges managing the rear surfaces, we went backwards. Overtaking proved possible, contrary to previous races here where it has been more processional, and in hindsight we should have started him on the Medium.

"It doesn't hide the fact though that we were too slow today," the Austrian admitted. "We are struggling at the moment with tracks that are hot and demanding on traction, like here and Baku, but that is no excuse. It is difficult for us to accept but we must do and find a way to improve.

"We now look ahead to Austin where we will have an update coming and we hope that will move us forward," Wolff concluded.