Mercedes has been in a slump for almost two years. Since the introduction of the ground effect, every attempt to regain the top spot has gone in vain. Further, the team has not won a Grand Prix since 2022, as its F1 project looks shoddy. Moreover, the star driver, Lewis Hamilton, who brought glory to the team, is ready for an early exit.
Therefore, the Mercedes team is enduring plenty of miseries amid a chaotic season. However, the team had a glimmer of hope ahead of the Monaco GP. The Friday practice sessions were the best of the season, as Lewis Hamilton ran ahead of Max Verstappen. However, during Sunday’s race, a miscommunication between the Silver Arrows technical team and Hamilton resulted in a drop in his position.
Toto Wolff Admits Hamilton’s Out-Lap Call Was A Mistake
Lewis Hamilton, who will soon live his childhood dream of driving for Ferrari, is enduring a poor run. Thus far, the Briton has scored 42 points in eight GPs. While he wants to finish the farewell season on a high for Mercedes, the W15 woes keep him off the pace. While Mercedes is making consistent efforts to improve, the ‘underlying issues’ are putting them on the back foot. However, the Three-pointed star ignited a fire of comeback during the free practice sessions. Moreover, after the crash on the first lap, the early red flag allowed the drivers to make changes.
On the contrary, Hamilton made a live pit stop to change the tires. However, it helped him to score one extra point by lapping the fastest. But, it snatched the opportunity of finishing ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The seven-time world champion voiced his frustration on the team radio. Hamilton, who started at seventh, pitted on the 51st lap to swap medium tires for hard. However, on his way out of the pit, the technical team didn’t tell him to go harder. The Briton had an opportunity to overtake Verstappen and finish one spot higher. Later, the team boss, Toto Wolff, accepted the team’s mistake. He further explained how Hamilton got a mixed message, which was confusing. Additionally, the team was concerned that if Hamilton pushed too hard, he might not finish the race due to a tire issue.
The Dilemma Of ‘Boring Sunday Race’ Continues As Hamilton Slates Monaco As Dull
While Lewis Hamilton was unhappy about the finish, he still felt it was a decent outing for the team. However, the 39-year-old feels the F1 sport is getting monotonous. He proclaimed the race on the streets of Monte Carlo was the least exciting despite stiff competition.
Further, he explained due to the early crash, everyone switched tires, managing a slow pace throughout the race. Therefore, it was one of the dullest races of his life. Consequently, the red flag was not helpful for the team’s strategy, as they opted for hard tires.