Lewis Hamilton’s most recent comments may worry Red Bull.
Lewis Hamilton fears his Mercedes will “come back” for the rest of the year, another grim prediction for the team that could ironically impact Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull. The British driver has painted a gloomy picture of how the final five races of his season could go after receiving feedback from engineers on the car’s performance at the races. Upcoming races in North America, South America and the Middle East.
The seven-time world champion, who has won 103 races in his career but is winless since the Saudi Grand Prix in December 2021, does not expect his on-track problems to end any time soon. finish because a bumpy surface will cause problems. for his car.
And it could impact the 38-year-old in his bid to finish behind Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship. “This car will bounce back for the rest of the year,” Hamilton told reporters. “But I’m optimistic for next year and I think it won’t be a feature of the car. It comes and goes – some races it doesn’t come back and others it does. But it does. like when we have it.” [Last year].”
Hamilton’s comments speak volumes about the ongoing problems Mercedes is facing with its car and the bounce since the new regulations were introduced in 2022. The team has been working hard to address the issue throughout the 2022 season after the Porpoises destroyed their chances of competing with Red Bull at the start of the season. It could also be embarrassing for Perez if the Mexican’s struggles continue. The 34-year-old currently holds a 30-point lead over Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship with five races remaining and his error-strewn record in Qatar – receiving 15-second penalties from the stewards – shows His form is waning at a worrying rate. . ratio.
He is facing intense scrutiny over his position next season, after receiving an ultimatum from the club to improve his performance at the end of the year. And if he is beaten to second place in the championship by Hamilton while the Silver Arrows have problems with their car, it could be the final nail in the coffin for Perez.
Perez was told he had five races to save his Red Bull career after being given an ultimatum to finish at least second in each of the final five races of the season if will not be at risk of being replaced by reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo in 2024. Armed with the best car on the grid, it wasn’t a difficult task for Perez – but his pace was much lower than Verstappen’s in the second half of the season after wins in Miami and Baku.
Hamilton will be determined to smooth things over at the United States Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday after a collision with teammate George Russell forced him to retire from the race for the first time this season. And if he defeats Perez this weekend, it could move the six-time champion closer to a title shot.
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