Former Formula 1 driver John Watson has called Lewis Hamilton "pathetic" for pulling out of his media duties on Wednesday ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. Both Hamilton and Watson were close friends of Niki Lauda who passed away earlier this week.
Hamilton was due to be part of the FIA press conference to preview the weekend, but Mercedes asked for him to be exempt. The Brit arrived at the track on a motorbike.
In recent years, Lauda has worked as a Mercedes consultant and often spent time within the paddock. Hamilton paid tribute to the work Lauda did for Mercedes on social media.
But Watson, a former teammate of Lauda, believes Hamilton should have faced the media.
"It's pathetic. I would like to know how Lewis can justify this. I know he was friendly with Niki, but I find it bizarre that a man of his stature would not be able to face people and tell them what Niki did for Mercedes and give him his due credit for the role he performed," Watson told the Daily Mail.
"He should have spoken out of respect. To be so upset that he apparently cannot discuss his admiration for how Niki helped him - that's pathetic. If the roles were reversed, Niki would have been in there telling the press in his typically blunt way what a great driver and what a fine world champion Lewis is."
At the press conference, Valtteri Bottas filled in and described Hamilton's condition as "ok".
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