When Lewis Hamilton secured a podium finish at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, it seemed as though the rest of Mercedes F1 was conspicuously absent from the celebrations shown on cam. The cameras panned to the ecstatic Ferrari and McLaren crews, leaving fans wondering why the seven-time champ’s own team was missing in action. This peculiar scenario had social media buzzing with speculations. However, there’s more to the story than meets the eye, as Mercedes F1 Technical Director James Allison has clarified.

Mercedes F1 Celebrating in the Background

Contrary to what the TV cameras conveyed, Mercedes was indeed present at the podium ceremony to celebrate their driver’s achievement. According to Allison’s interview with Motorsport.com, “as many of the team as it was practical” had made their way to the podium to join in the festivities. The team’s enthusiasm for supporting Hamilton was evident, as they relished the opportunity to cheer for their star driver.

The Camera’s Gaze Elsewhere

The Mercedes F1 Technical Director pointed out that the reason behind the perception that Mercedes was missing in action lies in the dynamics of TV production. The narrative of Ferrari ending Red Bull’s winning streak in 2023 took center stage, directing the camera’s attention to the jubilant faces of the Ferrari crew.

Additionally, the exuberance of the McLaren team also garnered its fair share of screen time. With a “very significant number” of representatives from various teams present at the podium, Mercedes ended up getting overshadowed by the dominant narrative.

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, while some of the Mercedes team had to remain in the garage to retrieve George Russell’s crashed car, the rest were indeed at the podium, celebrating alongside other teams. However, as Allison explained, the cameras cannot capture every moment, and their focus was on portraying the jubilation of Ferrari and McLaren, given the significance of the race’s outcome.