Seven-time champ on verge of horror 15-year first

2 years ago 118

Tuesday can't travel soon capable for Lewis Hamilton.

That volition beryllium the past clip the seven-time Formula 1 satellite champion volition person to thrust the dreaded Mercedes F1 W13.

After a reign implicit Formula 1 that lasted astir a decade, the new-for-2022 regulations turned the tables connected Mercedes.

Instead of the Silver Arrows dominating, it was Red Bull and Ferrari who work the rulebook close and near Mercedes to play catch-up.

With qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix topped by Max Verstappen, Hamilton broke a 15-year tally of seasons successful which helium claimed rod presumption astatine slightest once.

Come Monday, the Formula 1 icon looks acceptable to interruption a akin record. Notwithstanding a daze result, Hamilton is acceptable to person his archetypal winless play successful the sport.

Hamilton joined the Formula 1 circus successful 2007 and won conscionable his sixth contention successful Canada for McLaren Mercedes.

Two days of investigating volition travel the decision of the Formula 1 play astatine the Yas Marina Circuit.

That volition people the last clip Hamilton has to thrust the W13.

"I americium looking guardant to the extremity of Tuesday which is the past clip I volition person to thrust this thing," helium said.

"I don't ever program to thrust it again. It volition not beryllium 1 of the cars I petition to person successful my contract.

"Everyone successful the squad knows the problems and wherever we person gone wrong. I americium beauteous assured that they are not going to physique the adjacent car with immoderate of those characteristics."

By contrast, Hamilton's teammate George Russell is enjoying his champion play to date.

Ironically, it's the champion car helium has ever had the privilege of racing for a afloat play aft 3 years spent dawdling astatine Williams.

Russell took a astonishment triumph astatine the Brazilian Grand Prix for what was his archetypal Formula 1 contention win. He lies 4th successful the standings, 1 spot up of Hamilton.

Of the record, Mercedes squad main Toto Wolff said it wasn't 1 helium believes Hamilton cares excessively overmuch about.

"He says that the 1 triumph a twelvemonth isn't truly a grounds that bothers him," said Wolff.

"If I'm trying to enactment myself successful his shoes, wherever I was earlier Brazil, it didn't peculiarly fuss maine whether we would triumph a contention this season, due to the fact that each our eyes are already connected adjacent year.

"But having won one, it felt beauteous good. At slightest cipher could accidental you didn't triumph a race.

"I don't deliberation this peculiar grounds is an important 1 for him, but we request to supply him with a car adjacent twelvemonth successful which helium tin combat for victories and championships.

"That's astir important and helium knows that."

Wolff admitted there's precise small anticipation for Monday that Mercedes tin assertion a triumph owed to the quality of the Yas Marina Circuit and the characteristics of the downforce-heavy W13.

"Abu Dhabi was 1 of the worst tracks connected our 'table of doom'," helium said.

"Not catastrophic, but not ideal, and we person seen that today.

"We are conscionable mode excessively draggy, and it is not easy solved by reducing the rear helping due to the fact that it is aerodynamic ratio the car is lacking.

"If we trim the wing, we are not accelerated successful the corners.

"In a way, it is bully determination is correlation betwixt our simulation and the result. That is the 1 affirmative I see.

"I anticipation we person a beardown contention car that is gentle connected the tyres adjacent if we can't overtake, oregon defend."

Mercedes volition present a caller car for 2023, acceptable to beryllium known arsenic the W14.

The Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix gets underway astatine midnight Sunday.

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