Mercedes Clarifies Hamilton\’s Frustrated Radio Message During The Final Moments Of Australian GP Explained!

Lewis Hamilton seemed to be a little mad at his team during the final moments of the Australian GP last Sunday. He finished the race in the fourth position and was forced to give up the battle with his Mercedes teammate George Russell to secure a spot at the podium. Mercedes strategy director James Vowels offered an explanation for Hamilton\’s abrupt radio message, where he seemed to be furious.

George Russell finished fourth at Melbourne\’s Albert Park Circuit. The reigning champ Max Verstappen had to retire for the second time in 2022 due to a mechanical issue. Moreover, Ferrari\’s Carlos Sainz Jr. was also forced to retire. And Hamilton might have seen it as a perfect opportunity to secure his second podium of the season. 

Hamilton sounded annoyed when he spoke to his race engineers during the final few seconds of the race. It was clear he would not be able to finish in the top three as Lewis said, \”You guys put me in a really difficult position.\”

Hamilton was reported to be frustrated because he lost his track position to his teammate Russell due to the pit stop timings. George Russell got the benefit of the safety car when he switched the tires without losing much time. 

Mercedes Explains Engine Overheating Issue Lead To Hamilton\’s Annoyance

The Silver Arrows strategy director, James Vowels, clarifies was Hamilton was battling to make sure his engine did not overheat. Vowels said that Hamilton battled to keep the power unit and the engine cool throughout the race. Mercedes pushes every aspect of their uniquely designed car to the limits. And engine cooling was one of those factors during the Australian GP.

Vowels shared that engine cooling is done by closing up the bodywork or changing the lourve design at the back of the car. The team made a decision about the engine cooling issue on Sunday. And Hamilton was responsible for making sure the W13\’s engine did not overheat while competing to win. 

Further, the motorsport strategy director added that the temperature was one or two degrees higher than Mecedes\’ expectations. Vowels said that most racing teams struggled with the temperature. The ambient was up to the limit of what an engine and the PU can handle.

Vowels\’ Clarification Matches Hamilton\’s Postrace Comments

The reporters asked the seven-time world champ about his abrupt radio message during the race. Hamilton told the reporters in Melbourne that he could not fight for the third place as his engine was overheating. Hence, Lewis had no choice but to back off and just sit behind. However, Mercedes has made a strong comeback by finishing in third and fourth place while struggling with W13\’s porpoising issue.

The Silver Arrows are struggling to compete for pace with Ferrari and Red Bull in the season\’s early stages. Moreover, Lewis described that the results were great for his team. Mercedes managed to bag as many points as they could. Mercedes drivers took advantage of the retirements of Red Bull\’s Verstappen and Ferrari\’s Carlos Sainz. 

Further, Lewis added that the team had so many difficult moments with the W13 during the Australian weekend. Hamilton did not expect that his team would secure the third and fourth spots. He appreciated George Russell for his great performance. Hamilton and Mercedes have a lot of positives to take from last weekend\’s race. They will look to gear up for the Emilian Romagna Grand Prix on April 24. The Silver Arrows will hope to win in Italy and get back in the championship race..