Mercedes did not listen to Lewis Hamilton when developing the current car in Formula 1. That’s what he says on BBC radio. The team had a disappointing opening race last weekend. Both Hamilton and George Russell failed to make the podium.
“I’ve pointed out several aspects over the past year,” Hamilton said in the BBC’s Checkered Flag podcast. “But not much has been done with that information. I’ve driven so many cars in my life that I really know what I’m talking about. I know what a car needs and also what it doesn’t need. It would be nice if people finally admit that now.”
The seven-time world champion has not yet given up hope for a successful season. “It’s about them admitting, ‘We haven’t listened to you and we’re not where we need to be. So we have to get to work.’”
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We need to look at all the other weaknesses and just huddle together as a team
According to Hamilton, there is still a lot of work to be done to compete again with Red Bull, which scored a one-two in Bahrain with winner Max Verstappen and teammate Sergio Pérez. “We have to look at the balance in the corners, look at all the other weaknesses and just huddle together as a team. That’s what we have to do.”
“We are still multiple world champions, you know? We just didn’t get it right this time. And not last year either. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take further steps forward.”
Last season was already very disappointing for Hamilton, who almost never came close to world champion Verstappen. Fifth place for Hamilton and seventh place for Russell showed in Bahrain on Sunday that there is no progress yet.
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