The Mercedes engine of Lewis Hamilton suffered a failure during the Australian GP, resulting in the British driver’s withdrawal from the race. Difficulties for both Hamilton and Mercedes have continued this F1 season. The team has failed to meet expectations, with Hamilton even failing to secure a position in the top ten in the qualifying round. Unfortunately, things worsened for the seven-time world champion during the Grand Prix when he was forced to retire due to an engine failure.
After the race, Hamilton shared his thoughts on the incident. He explained that the engine suddenly stopped during the race, catching him by surprise. When asked about the moment he realized the power unit had failed, Hamilton stated that it happened instantly, completely unexpected.
Furthermore, Hamilton admitted that there wasn’t much Mercedes could do to improve their performance in the next race. He acknowledged that this season would be challenging for the Silver Arrows. Additionally, there was a high-speed crash involving Hamilton on the final lap of the race. It is important to note that this will be Hamilton’s last season with Mercedes as he will move to Ferrari next year.
Hamilton came close to competing with Red Bull’s driver, Perez, during the race. However, Perez was able to take advantage of the RB20’s speed and pull away from Mercedes. As a result, the Silver Arrows found themselves at a clear disadvantage compared to the current world champions at Albert Park, and this is expected to continue in the upcoming races.
By admitting a significant difference between Mercedes and Red Bull, Hamilton even stated that Milton Keynes was a full second faster than his team. He acknowledged that Perez had the advantage of newer tires, but was still surprised by how quickly Checo was able to pull away.
Undoubtedly, both Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes had another disappointing race this season. The team is hopeful for a turnaround in the upcoming races, but Hamilton has already accepted that 2024 will be a challenging year for the Brackley-based team. Only time will tell how things will unfold in the next stages of the season.
