The seven-time Formula 1 champion made a strategic decision to sacrifice his speed in qualifying to focus on improving his performance in the race. However, he faced numerous issues during the race, including overheating brakes, battery failure, and even a broken seat that further compromised his performance.
Hamilton explained to the press that his battery had died for a period of time, causing him to lose significant ground to the McLarens on the straights. He spent several laps resolving the issue, resulting in a loss of valuable seconds. Additionally, he had to deal with overheating brakes and an overall mediocre performance.
Hamilton’s teammate, George Russell, also faced car overheating due to a Mercedes cooling setup error. Furthermore, Hamilton had to deal with a malfunctioning seat that affected his stability during braking.
Despite the difficulties faced by Mercedes, Hamilton remains optimistic and undeterred. He acknowledged that it was a mediocre race and recognized the dominance of the Red Bulls. However, he believes that the team has made progress in addressing previous issues and now has a solid foundation to build upon.
Looking to the future, Hamilton expressed confidence in the team’s ability to improve. He highlighted that, although the W15’s performance in Bahrain was not ideal, a better qualifying would have allowed him to finish higher up the grid. He believes the team is still the third fastest and has the potential to close the gap to Ferrari.
In conclusion, Hamilton remains cautious in making a final judgment on the W15’s potential based solely on the Bahrain race. He acknowledges there were setbacks, but believes the team can continue to progress and be competitive in the future.
