“We were miles away” and “There’s nothing positive today” says Mercedes boss to the TV cameras as he voices frustration at the pathetic display of the once Formula 1 superpower that was Mercedes AMG F1. In the midst of the Mercedes crisis, Lewis Hamilton turns on his team to the cameras after the race.
Austrian team shareholder and boss of the Mercedes F1 team will have some tough answers to have to give the board of Mercedes proper. Wolff will have to explain why a smaller customer team in Aston Martin was able to sail past the seven time champion in the closing stages of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
“There is nothing positive today,” Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff told Sky after the Formula 1 season opener in Bahrain. The black liveried (in an effort to lose weight), Silver Arrows only finished fifth and seventh in Sakhir and had nothing at all to do with the outcome at the top. The road to the front is therefore even more difficult for Mercedes than originally thought.
For Lewis Hamilton, too, there is little to be satisfied about this Sunday. Fifth place was flattering for him and a podium was completely out of reach: “We were miles away,” he complains and, due to Charles Leclerc’s retirement, he sees himself more in sixth place anyway.
“The podium was not even close.”
While they were at least reasonably reconciled on Saturday, not much went right for Mercedes in the race on Sunday. The long run was not at top level and Hamilton pitted twice as the first of the top drivers.
“On the whole, it felt the same as last year,” he lamented.
Hamilton turns on his team
“When we set the strategy in the morning, I told the guys we weren’t going to make it as far as they thought we would – and we didn’t,” says the British driver as the former F1 champ turns on his Mercedes team. He doesn’t put it down to the new Pirelli tyres:
“It’s not the tyres. It’s the car,” he says.
“We still have a lot of work to do. We’re missing a lot of downforce and therefore a lot of time,” says Hamilton, but he currently refuses to admit that he’s not worried that they’re not making enough progress:
“Worried wouldn’t be the right word,” he says. “I don’t want to say too much, but we just have to keep working.”
“We know we are not where we need to be and we know this is not the right car,” Hamilton said.
“It’s a difficult car. But I just have to stay positive, keep my head up and keep pushing the guys. I have to try and be a positive light for them if I can.”
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Aston Martin upsets Mercedes
But what actually makes it even more bitter for Mercedes is the success of Aston Martin. That’s because the racing team, which finished third with Fernando Alonso, is Mercedes’ customer racing team, sources many of the team’s parts and uses the same wind tunnel, and still managed to overtake Mercedes.
“It’s really amazing to see,” said Hamilton, who praised the team for doing well – and also his former rival Alonso.
“Quite a big compliment,” he pays tribute. “He did a great job today.”
Hamilton battled Alonso himself at times, but was beaten after a surprise pass at turn 10.
“Yeah, it was fun for a moment,” he said. “But he was just in a different league. He was able to pull away immediately. I knew he was going to pass when I saw him coming closer.”
READ MORE: Astonishing admission from Toto Wolff
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When Hamilton saw Alonso coming close, why did he not turn on him and hit Alonso’s rear as he always does to his challengers? He would have finished Alonso off, got off scot-free thanks to the compliant FIA that is always submissive to MB, and he would come closer to the podium. Or is he perhaps beginning to learn fair driving in his old age!!!
Your an idiot.what a stupid remark.he does not turn into peoples cars.
Yes he does. He is a spoilt little boy. Nothing is ever his fault.
Hahahaha that’s typical Hamilton isn’t it
I’m guessing by other challengers you mean Max. Maybe it’s because Alonso knows where to put his car to overtake instead of ramming his way through?
Name one time that Hamilton did what you said, be specific.
Uhm look at the last 7 years how many times he got away with that. Stupid a hole… I hate him with a passion. Look at the great man that is Alonso. Look at his driving. Masterful… Lewis can’t drive for shit…. See example everytime he was not driving in front… Always pannic….
I noticed you didn’t disagree with the spoilt little boy. Lol.
Spoiled*
These comments confirm what has always been obvious. This isn’t an F1 site, it’s a Max lovers paradise. Full of misinformation, petty headlines and even more petty people posting factually incorrect comments.
This is the way of the world. There will always be people with opposite viewpoints.
One side calls the other side idiots without realizing that they themselves are idiots.
If TJ13 is not an F1 site, what of SKY and Planet F1? They set the lowest standards in misinformation, petty headlines and factually incorrect statements.
The Hamfosis must really belong to a very low class of human beings. Not just for their fanaticism, bigotry and their use of foul language, but their obstinate refusal to see sense.
F1 blogs are a microcosm of the world. Look at the slick propaganda and media blitzkrieg
of the western powers to justify their indefensible actions in Ukraine! Reminds one of the vigour of Hamilton’s fans to push their viewpoint and justice and reason be damned!