Lewis Hamilton hints at W14’s key problem: “A specific thing I’ve never had before”
Hamilton looked extremely downbeat throughout most of the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, culminating in finishing fifth, a place behind teammate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell.
Compounding his problems, Hamilton has not appeared as ♔comfortable in the W14 as Russell in the first two grands prix of the seas𒉰on.
"We're a long way down on downforce," Hamilton said after the race.&nbs🍸p;
"So we've got to pick up the rear end downforce, particularly. The more rear we gain, the more stable the rear🃏 becomes - the more confident I'll be able to attack.
"But I think in general, just this car…
“Even if we do cha💦nge that, there's a s♛pecific thing with something on the car that I have never had before.
"It'෴s a🌞 position I've not had in previous years' cars.
“For me, it's the thing that is ma🐷king me uncomfortable. I've just got to work hard to make sure it is changed.
"It's on a knife edge when you're above about 95 percent. But when you're in a race stint, it'♎s much more controllable and predictabl🥃e.
"I still don🌌't have the confidence in the race, but I'm doing the best I can with it."
Hamilton did not reveal the key characteristic of the car that he is unhappy about but it is sure to be a main area of focus for Mercede⛎s’ engineers as they ta♏ckle the W14’s limitations.
However, the overall mood coming out of Toto Wolff’s team was💮 slightly more positive in Jeddah than it was a fortnight earlier at🧸 the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
Mercedes are promising significant upgrades in theiꦜr pursuit of Red Bull and Aston Martin.
In Jeddah, theyꦐ already outperf🐟ormed Ferrari who are experienced issues of their own.
"It is definitel🌟y strange to see the Ferraria behind us,” Hamilton said. “It's positive for us.
"It's a different surface here, and we don't really understand why on this ♍surface our car works one way, and it's different in another.
"But there are lots of po🎐sitives to take from this weekend. It will be up and dowไn throughout the first three races.
“Hopefully we c♒an get some upgꦑrades ASAP and try to close that gap to the Aston Martins.”
F1 returns for the Australian Grand Prix on March 31-Apr♉il 2๊.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports fꦆor a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
