Hamilton’s victory, in such convincing type, has inevitably raised questions on what he and Ferrari can go on to realize.
The group entered this 12 months with excessive hopes that the brand new rules for chassis and engine may give them an opportunity to return to the entrance.
So six consecutive Mercedes victories at the beginning of the 12 months, and the apparent undeniable fact that Ferrari’s engine was lagging behind one of the best, had been an unwelcome shock.
The Ferrari automobile was pretty much as good as anything within the corners – maybe one of the best – however that was not sufficient to compete with Mercedes.
Barcelona modified all that. Ferrari launched their second main improve of the 12 months, to comply with the primary on the fourth race of the season in Miami.
And on a monitor the place energy just isn’t such an necessary half in lap time, it made a vital distinction.
Hamilton was left behind by Antonelli in Monaco every week in the past, on a monitor the place energy is even much less necessary. However this time he was the quickest driver within the race.
The win – together with Antonelli’s first retirement of the 12 months – places Hamilton 41 factors adrift of the Italian, and extends his lead over Russell to 9.
And underneath F1’s engine guidelines, Ferrari have been granted two upgrades this season, Mercedes just one. The primary may come, it’s mentioned, as early as the following race in Austria.
Hamilton has been searching for that elusive eighth title ever since he misplaced it in the controversy of Abu Dhabi 2021. To attain it with Ferrari can be one of many largest tales F1 has ever seen. Can he do it?
“With the way in which that the 12 months began out, I’ve probably not been desirous about it like that,” Hamilton mentioned. “I’ve not been desirous about an eighth.
“Mercedes have come out the gates with a blistering automobile and blistering tempo, each drivers doing such an amazing job. We all know we have now this energy deficit.
“There’s going to be tracks the place we go to with lengthy, lengthy straights the place that makes it even tougher.
“However we have got an amazing automobile on the core and if we preserve including efficiency and we are able to undergo the corners faster, possibly we are able to slender that deficit down slightly bit till we enhance or till we shut the hole on energy.”
Wolff mentioned: “I might slightly not struggle with him for a title as a result of I do know what he is able to. If he smells blood, he goes. I’ve seen it a few years the place all of the sudden the Lewis Hamilton prepare began to go after which it’s extremely troublesome to cease it.”
