Lewis Hamilton said Mercedes made the wrong call when he was told to slow down and help his team mate by giving him the opportunity to use his Drag Reduction System. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The two Mercedes drivers were being pursued by Carlos Sainz Jnr in the closing stages of the Japanese Grand Prix. George Russell ran at the front of the queue but his tyres were more worn as he had only pitted once. Hamilton and Sainz behind him had the benefit of fresher rubber. Hamilton said it was inevitable Russell was going to be passed by Sainz and Mercedes should have waved him past his teammate at the first opportunity, so he could build up a gap over the pursuing Ferrari. Instead he spent several laps behind Russell and once he was allowed past, Hamilton was told to back off so Russell could use DRS. However Sainz was still able to overtake the second Mercedes. Sainz used a similar DRS ploy to good effect when he won the Singapore Grand Prix last … [Read more...] about Mercedes’ call to help Russell using DRS “made no sense” – Hamilton
Ptown bear week
Red Bull break record with sixth constructors’ championship win
Red Bull have clinched the 2023 Formula 1 constructors’ championship after winning the Japanese Grand Prix. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Max Verstappen’s victory in today’s race ensures they can no longer be overhauled by their rivals in the standings. Red Bull have secured the title for the sixth time since they entered the series in 2005. Having dominated the 2023 championship, they have ended the title fight with six races remaining. This is earlier than any team has ever won the title. McLaren and Ferrari won the constructors’ title with five races to spare in 1988 and 2004 respectively. “For us the most amazing year,” said team boss Christian Horner. “It’s all testimony to these guys and all the men and women back in the factory in Milton Keynes. “To Red Bull, to all our partners, it’s the collection of an incredible effort of everybody doing their bit to achieve results like we’ve done and of course Max is just on another level at the … [Read more...] about Red Bull break record with sixth constructors’ championship win
How Verstappen can clinch third championship title in Qatar sprint race
Max Verstappen can score his third drivers’ championship victory before the Qatar Grand Prix. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The Red Bull driver’s points lead following his 13th victory of the season today means he can clinch the title in the sprint race at the Losail International Circuit in two weeks’ time. While Verstappen romped to victory from pole position his only remaining championship rival, team mate Sergio Perez , suffered a terrible race. Already on the back foot after breaking his front wing in a first-lap collision with Lewis Hamilton, Perez then crashed into Kevin Magnussen, damaging his front wing again, and subsequently retired from the race. Verstappen therefore leads the drivers’ championship by 177 points with 180 available over the remaining six rounds. Three of those rounds include sprint races and therefore offer an extra eight points on top of the 25 for a grand prix win and bonus point for fastest lap. As Verstappen has … [Read more...] about How Verstappen can clinch third championship title in Qatar sprint race
Hamilton: Mercedes DRS request for Russell “made no sense”
The pair were running close together on track in fifth and sixth in the closing stages of the Suzuka race as the fast-charging Sainz closed up behind them. Hamilton, who was on better tyres, was eventually allowed past Russell, but was then immediately ordered to slow down to try to keep Russell within DRS range so he would not be such a sitting duck against Sainz on the straights. This came just one week after Sainz himself brilliantly used to tactic to give Lando Norris a boost, which successfully staved off an attack from Mercedes . But Hamilton questioned the tactic as he felt that not being allowed to pull clear and build up a big enough gap against Sainz was completely the wrong thing to do. "I don't think that was a good idea at all," explained Hamilton. "When they suggested it to me, I knew that they had obviously thought of it from the last race, and it made no sense. "I needed to get as far clear ahead as possible and I was on my way. I was around two … [Read more...] about Hamilton: Mercedes DRS request for Russell “made no sense”
Mercedes aiming to ‘tidy up’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell radio dispute
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell weren’t giving each other an inch as the pair battled for position at Suzuka. The Mercedes duo provided some of the best racing entertainment of the Japanese Grand Prix, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton inseperable at points of the race as they took on differing strategies. In the early stages, Russell briefly managed to get ahead of Hamilton, only for the seven-time World Champion to swoop back past on the pit straight, while Russell found himself being pushed wide at Spoon corner shortly after. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell swap positions In the closing stages, with Russell having run a one-stop strategy to Hamilton’s two, the pair encountered each other again. With Russell leading Hamilton with five laps to go, and the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz in hot pursuit, Russell was instructed to let Hamilton past – Russell pointing out that it could wait until the last lap, and they could attempt to use DRS as a defence tool against … [Read more...] about Mercedes aiming to ‘tidy up’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell radio dispute
Frustrated Lewis Hamilton rues lack of Mercedes progress: ‘Exactly same as last year’
Lewis Hamilton said it was “tough” to see that Mercedes has no progress to show for their work, with the W14 bouncing and sliding at Suzuka just like its predecessor the W13 did. Hamilton had already expressed dissatisfaction with his W14 challenger after qualifying P7 at Suzuka, claiming it had a lack of load on the rear, which in his opinion, was “100 per cent concept” related. And while Hamilton was able to gain a couple of positions in the race, crossing the line P5, he was nonetheless 50 seconds behind Red Bull’s race winner Max Verstappen, and again had some critical words for his machinery. “Exhausted” Lewis Hamilton disappointed to see no progress The bouncing phenomenon known as porpoising was what held Mercedes back in the early stages of this regulatory era, with challengers switching to ground effect aerodynamics from 2022, though Hamilton claimed the bouncing had returned at Suzuka. And to see the team so far off Verstappen out front and 30 seconds behind P2 … [Read more...] about Frustrated Lewis Hamilton rues lack of Mercedes progress: ‘Exactly same as last year’