Lewis Hamilton says that he warned Mercedes about issues he feared being carried over from the 2022 car but the team didn't listen to him.

On Sunday, Mercedes worst fears were realised, Red Bull and even Ferrari aside, the Aston Martin drivers, one of them still recovering from a cycling accident, were essentially able to play with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell before finally putting them out of their misery.

At race end Toto Wolff described it one of the team's worst days in racing, vowing that no stone would be left unturned in returning the Silver Arrows to the front of the grid.

However, amidst the calls for a return to the drawing board and even speculation over a possible B-Car, Lewis Hamilton has said that fears he had in terms of mistakes on the W13 that were carried over to its successor went unheeded.

"Last year, I told them the issues that are with the car," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Chequered Flag podcast.

"I've driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn't need," he added.

"I think it's really about accountability," he continued, "it's about owning up and saying 'yeah, you know what, we didn't listen to you, it's not where it needs to be and we've got to work'.

"We've got to look into the balance through the corners, look at all the weak points and just huddle up as a team, that's what we do," urged the seven-time world champion.

"We're still multi-World Champions you know, it's just they haven't got it right this time.

"I've had many cars like this, particularly back in the McLaren days. I don't know when or how we're gonna turn it around but it's gonna have to happen," he vowed. "They didn't get it right last year, but that doesn't mean we can't get it right moving forwards."

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by trackrecords, 10/03/2023 22:37

""Apexing" The car needs the Holy Hand-grenade of Antioch treatment."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by Apexing, 10/03/2023 17:27

"Lewis seems to be channeling his inner Tim The Enchanter from Monty Python & The Holy Grail: "I warned ye, but did ye listen to me? Oh, no, ye knew, didn't ye? Oh, it's just a harmless little bunny, isn't it...?""

Rating: Positive (3) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by MVR, 10/03/2023 13:40

"And that's why they don't listen to him anymore!"

Rating: Positive (3) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by MVR, 10/03/2023 9:29

"I wonder - was the development of the winning car due to Schumacher's inputs? And as they've developed it further using Hamilton's it's gone downhil?"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by kenji, 10/03/2023 2:28

"@ Defiant...We share quite a lot apparently. All good. As for the FIA, well IMO they are not silencing anyone, thay are simply saying do it away from the F1 platform which is not yours to exploit. Hopefully we can continue to share our differing viewpoints in a becoming manner. C'mon Jeddah..."

Rating: Positive (6) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

6. Posted by jcr, 09/03/2023 19:02

"Ferrari sacked Prost for less !!!
We should be so lucky ??"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

7. Posted by Chester, 09/03/2023 16:37

"@Defiant. It is not "unfortunate" that RB and AM have designed a better car. It is a welcome change. And to me, an unmasking of the GOAT. Many drivers can lay claim to GOAT. The Professor to me is GOAT."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

8. Posted by Defiant, 09/03/2023 16:03

"@kenji, unlike the FIA, I don't want you to be silenced. I'm happy to disagree with you (and agree too) at my pleasure. I admit too, I also am biased, just mine is against the red ones.

So bash away. I'm quite ambivalent toward LH. I respect his accomplishments and have enjoyed his races (when I actually watched) but his social justice warrior antics turn me off big time.

"

Rating: Positive (5) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

9. Posted by kenji, 09/03/2023 13:49

"Hamilton claims that 'they', the designers of his car didn't listen to him! Maybe they did!!! Besides, according to Wolff 'they' never blame anyone/individuals but take it as a team. No one seems to have explained that to Hamilton with his latest shout out. And for @Defiant...yes, you are somewhat correct in your allegations. Guilty your honor but like Hamilton, 'I will not be silenced'. LOL. Roll on Saudi Arabia."

Rating: Positive (6) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

10. Posted by alvarezh3, 09/03/2023 12:22

"@ TokyoAussie

Brave man! This place has a few HAMFOSIS who will soon come after you! Yep! they will defend their idol with all their might! :-)"

Rating: Positive (3) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

11. Posted by TokyoAussie, 09/03/2023 8:14

"Lewis is full of himself."

Rating: Positive (10) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

12. Posted by ToeKnee, 09/03/2023 2:02

"Unlike LeClerc, who’s team prevents him from winning (clown world), and he continues to take the high road."

Rating: Positive (5) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

13. Posted by Tardis40, 08/03/2023 20:38

"Lewis needs a change of scenery"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

14. Posted by ChickenFarmerF1, 08/03/2023 16:49

"I'm with Defiant here. This should never be in the media. Behind closed doors is one thing.

What we don't know from this is did Merc really ignore Hamilton's feedback, or did they try but fail to fully address it? The former is malpractice. As noted there's nobody that can describe the car's performance like the guy strapped into it, and his feedback is crucial to car development (and has been since the start of racing). The latter is a matter of competence. In that case though the question also has to be asked what they tried, and if they should have been able to resolve the issues. Some problems are very tricky and not solving them doesn't necessarily indicate incompetence. And sometimes there are constraints on the ability to make the changes because of factors beyond that engineering team's control. In that case it could be management incompetence rather than engineering incompetence."

Rating: Positive (5) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

15. Posted by elsiebc, 08/03/2023 16:07

"The old adage "we win as a time but you lose.""

Rating: Positive (5) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

I warned them, they didn't listen, says Hamilton

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page