At the start of the new Formula 1 season, constructors’ world champion Mercedes is still struggling with serious set-up problems with its new W13. The Silver Arrows have quite a problem with the porposing effect, the bouncing of the car on a straight line at very high speed. Former world champion Damon Hill criticized Mercedes harshly for this.
“I wonder how Lewis Hamilton can see something with this hopping,” said the longtime Formula 1 driver as a TV expert on “Sky” on British television.
Superstar Hamilton’s bouncing problems during Friday’s practice sessions have not yet been resolved, while his teammate George Russell’s silver arrow was more stable on the road in the second free practice session.
The Mercedes competition for Red Bull and Ferrari generally had the phenomenon under control much better, so that Lewis Hamiltons in particular stood out with his jumping Mercedes.
Damon Hill clearly sees Max Verstappen as the favorite
“The higher the speed on a straight, the more bouncing. We’re used to a car getting jerky on a bump, but this is ridiculous. This constant stalling and then rebuilding the suction cup effect, it’s out of control.” , the 1996 World Champion complained about the weak point of the new Mercedes car.
Hill has clearly identified world champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull as the favorite for the race weekend with qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday (both from 4 p.m.) in Bahrain.
“It all seems a bit too easy for Max Verstappen. I can imagine that they haven’t yet shown what they can really do. Every time someone is fast, Max goes out on the track and improves. For For me, that’s an indication that they have reserves,” says the TV expert, who has contested 115 Formula 1 races in his career.