Lewis Hamilton has doubled down on Mercedes’ verdict that their car is unacceptably uncompetitive after one race of the Formula One season, conceding, “We know this is not the right car.”
The seven-time world champion already knows any shot at another title this year is gone as Mercedes have accepted they will have to change the design concept of their car with immediate effect after they finished fourth fastest in the field at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.
Hamilton finished fifth in a race won with ease by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who was 50 seconds up the track from the Briton – a chasm that could have been wider if the Dutchman had any need to push for the second half of the race.
Mercedes were also beaten by Ferrari and Aston Martin. The latter have emerged with a strong car, having taken early notice of their failings in 2022 and designed a new model.
Mercedes, who struggled with their design last season, decided to stick with it but it has proved, in stark contrast to the Aston that uses a Mercedes engine, gearbox and suspension, to have gone backwards. The car lacks downforce, particularly though the fast corners where it is sliding and leaving the drivers unable to put the power down, a hugely compromising flaw.
The team have acknowledged this, with the team principal, Toto Wolff, accepting they were investigating any and all changes to their design to provide an immediate improvement in pace. In Bahrain Hamilton confirmed he agreed that the current path was no longer viable.
When asked if the direction Mercedes had chosen for the car was of concern, he was unequivocal. “Concern would not be the word,” he said. “We have to keep working. We know we are not where we need to be; we know this is not the right car.
“It’s a difficult one but I have to try to stay positive, keep my head up, keep pushing the guys and be a positive light and get the best points when I can.”
Hamilton was passed during the race by Fernando Alonso, who went on to take third in the Aston Martin. It was a place Hamilton could not defend as the Aston proved to have far better pace. Hamilton acknowledged Alonso’s skill but said he was simply in “a different league performance-wise”. Towards the end Hamilton moved closer to Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who was fourth, but could not catch the Spaniard, which made clear Mercedes’ position in the pecking order.
“We are the fourth-fastest team,” Hamilton said. “It was close for a second but I couldn’t hold on to him. I did the best I could.”
Verstappen looks in every position to begin a march to his third championship, as was recognised by Hamilton’s teammate, George Russell, who finished seventh. “Red Bull have got this championship sewn up and I don’t think anybody will be fighting with them this year,” he said.
“They should win every single race. With the performance they have got I don’t see anyone challenging them. They have got it easy at the moment and they can do what they like.”
Hamilton was looking towards what he and Mercedes could salvage with the commitment to improving this year’s ride. “It’s not the tyres, it’s the car,” he said. “We have just got a lot of work to do.”
The next round is on Sunday 19 March in Saudi Arabia.
