The British star of Silver Arrow expected much more from his team.
Lewis Hamilton was far behind the pace of the top. PDO
Mercedes set themselves tough goals for the second half of the F1 season. Ferrari and Red Bull caught up and in the fight for victory.
The reality hit me hard in the face right in the first qualifying sessions after the summer break. Lewis Hamilton was seventh and George Russell eighth.
Be different from the one who drove the fastest time in the time trials to Max Verstappen accumulated a massive 1.8 seconds.
– How much? Really 1.8 seconds? Hamilton would talk on his team radio after qualifying.
Mercedes has failed with their car this season. New updates were expected to improve performance, but the reality was harsh.
Mersu is particularly weak on straights. On a track like Spa, it’s poison.
Hamilton, the most successful driver of all time, was confused by Mersu’s lost speed after qualifying. He expected much more from the weekend.
– Everyone has worked hard. We came to Spaha in a good mood, we were confident that the gap to the top would have decreased. Maybe half a second, we guessed. And then it was 1.8 seconds. It was quite a slap in the face, Hamilton said.
W13 can still offer Hamilton occasional moments of success, but nothing to do with the championship.
– The situation is what it is. We will have to suffer with this car. I won’t miss this car after the season is over.
Mersut gets to start Sunday’s race from slightly better starting positions, thanks to other penalties. Hamilton starts from grid four and Russell from grid five.