6
Lewis Hamilton says that learning his car was damaged during the season-opening Australian Grand Prix was encouraging, as it suggested why he was so far off the pace.
Hamilton crossed the line in second place but was 21 seconds behind teammate Valtteri Bottas, who picked up his first victory since the final Grand Prix of the 2017 season.
The Briton reported early on in the race that he had very little grip, and it was later revealed that he had a part of the floor missing.
The four-time world champion says that he didn't pick up the damage due to running wide at any point.
"Something didn’t feel right," he said. "But you can’t dwell on it, you just have to try and work with what you have. I was quite easily keeping up with Valtteri up until then, and then afterwards I felt I was really struggling with the rear.”
“I’m not sure where it came from because I didn’t run wide or anything like that anywhere."
Hamilton added that he may have picked up the damage by running over debris that was scattered around the first sector after separate incidents for Daniel Ricciardo and Robert Kubica.
“Actually it’s quite encouraging to me," Hamilton said of the damage. "We worked very hard to get the balance right and I felt like I had good pace this weekend and did our normal job in terms of working hard and getting a good set-up.
"And then all of a sudden the car was completely different compared to the formation laps and what we had on the long runs.
“So it’s great to see there’s a reason for the unexpected. We’ll just move forward and go from there.”
Of course Lewis, again, it's not your fault. Same like 2016 year when car damages, not your poor getaways, were the reason of losing the title.
It's a little early to be judging him I think - if he wins the next few races we might be thinking differently. As sure as eggs are eggs, he will be leading the champs by mid-point. He does have an image problem now, if he's right he's wrong, if he's wrong he's wrong. Not sure how that fixes itself, all he can do is keep winning, the history books don't lie I suppose.
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
470,528 comments on Mercedes
66 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Lewis Hamilton
613,589 comments on Mercedes 57 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Mercedes
JuJuHound
Posts: 352
Of course Lewis, again, it's not your fault. Same like 2016 year when car damages, not your poor getaways, were the reason of losing the title.