Lewis Hamilton urges Mercedes to repair his downforce drawback ‘ASAP’ after ending an enormous 51 seconds behind Max Verstappen on the Bahrain Grand Prix, as he concedes ‘the automobile is simply not there for the time being’
Lewis Hamilton claimed his automobile ‘simply is not there for the time being’ after ending fifth in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion finished 51 seconds behind Max Verstappen, who gained the race to provide the reigning champion an ominous begin to the 2023 season.
Sergio Perez finished second in a dominant one-two for Red Bull, whereas the following quickest driver, Fernando Alonso racing with Aston Martin for the primary time, was 38 seconds again in third.
Hamilton was clearly not pleased together with his automobile after the consequence. When requested if fifth was one of the best end he may have hoped for, the 38-year-old mentioned: ‘Yeah undoubtedly, I gave it completely all the things.
‘I’m typically proud of the race, it was significantly better with the qualifying and I’m proud of my efficiency.’
Lewis Hamilton has criticised his automobile after a disappointing begin to the F1 season
He completed fifth in Bahrain, 51 seconds behind race winner Max Vertappen
‘There’s not way more I may have executed. Set the automobile up in another way perhaps? However general simply missing efficiency.’
He felt there downforce subject in Bahrain, as he continued: ‘The group did an incredible job with the pit stops, simply sadly, the automobile is simply not there for the time being, we’re missing downforce and now we have simply started working actually onerous to try to add that ASAP.
‘Something that’s within the wind tunnel, we want it tomorrow. We have to push massively to shut that hole.
‘The Pink Bull tempo was large, it will need to have been a second a lap, however these round us I believe we will catch at some stage.’
Hamilton additionally touched on having fun with his battle with Alonso, as he added: ‘Finally, as a driver, you hope that you’re at all times going forwards or a minimum of in a tussle. ‘The beginning was nice, gained a few locations. Then we had that battle, I used to be near the Ferrari at one stage.’
For Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, the loss was a worrying begin to the season.
Hamilton spoke of a downforce subject and added ‘the automobile simply is not there for the time being’
Toto Wolff referred to as the Bahrain Grand Prix ‘one of many worst days in racing’ for Mercedes
‘It was one of many worst days in racing,’ he admitted. ‘It’s actually not good in any respect and we’re missing tempo left, proper and centre.
‘Pink Bull are simply on a distinct planet. That’s what hurts as a result of they’re up to now forward. It jogs my memory of our greatest years the place we simply put a second on everybody else. That’s the benchmark and we have to come again and we will completely do this.’
Sunday’s consequence means Christian Horner’s group have already got a 20-point lead within the constructor’s championship.
The subsequent Grand Prix will happen in Saudi Arabia on March 19.
