WATCH: Throwback when Lewis Hamilton drove his Mercedes to McLaren pits

In the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton’s journey with Mercedes hit a memorable, albeit slightly embarrassing, milestone when he accidentally pulled into his old McLaren team’s pit box. This incident occurred during his first podium finish with Mercedes, securing third place.

Hamilton’s race wasn’t without its challenges. The Briton found himself struggling to keep pace with the dominant Red Bulls, leading to an intense internal battle with Rosberg. Though Rosberg displayed impressive racecraft, managing his fuel and tyres more efficiently.

Here is the video:

Lewis Hamilton accidentally drove in the McLaren Pits instead of Mercedes#F1 pic.twitter.com/ervlGcoYcQ

— F1 History (@TodayF1History) August 11, 2024

However, the most talked-about moment of the race was Hamilton’s pit stop blunder. In a momentary lapse, he steered into the McLaren pits, a team he had raced with for years before his switch to Mercedes.

The incident drew chuckles and light-hearted jabs, with Hamilton himself joking, “I just did a Jenson,” referring to a similar mistake made by Jenson Button in the past. Sheepishly, he added, “I don’t know how I got it wrong, but a big apology to my team!”

Mercedes helps Hamilton to get his first podium finish

Meanwhile, the team orders from Mercedes’ team principal Ross Brawn kept Rosberg behind Lewis Hamilton. Brawn was clear in his instructions, ensuring that the duo maintained their positions to secure a safe finish. He stated, “Negative Nico, negative. Lewis’ pace is what we are asking him to do.”

Despite the team orders, Hamilton’s acknowledgement of Rosberg’s superior performance was candid. He admitted, “Nico deserves to be where I am, but the team thought it was logical to stay in the positions we were in.” Hamilton’s humility shone through as he recognized the smarter and more controlled race Rosberg had driven.

While Hamilton and Rosberg managed to secure a strong finish for Mercedes, the race was less fortunate for others. Jenson Button, who had been running strong in fifth, faced a disastrous pit stop that led to his eventual withdrawal from the race. A mis-fastened right front wheel dashed his hopes of a top-five finish, leaving him to reflect on the missed opportunity.