Lewis Hamilton back issues after Baku; team blames car
BAKU, Azerbaijan –
Method One famous person Lewis Hamilton is fighting a again damage per week earlier than the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
The seven-time world champion mentioned he was “praying” for Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku to finish, and was clutching his again as he gingerly climbed out of his Mercedes after ending fourth.
The 37-year-old has complained concerning the Mercedes’ tendency to bounce at excessive pace.
“There have been a variety of moments after I did not know whether or not I used to be going to make it and if I used to be going to have the ability to hold the automobile on observe,” Hamilton advised reporters Sunday. “That was probably the most painful and hardest race I’ve skilled.
“I used to be simply holding and biting down on my tooth because of the ache. The adrenalin helped, however I can’t specific the ache that you just expertise, notably on the (very quick) straight. I used to be simply praying for it to finish.”
He advised Mercedes crew boss Toto Wolff: “Let’s positively make some modifications.”
Rule modifications this season have meant decrease journey heights and stiffer suspensions for automobiles, and Mercedes automobiles have bottomed out at excessive speeds.
Wolff advised Hamilton over the crew radio in the direction of the tip of the race: “Lewis, everyone knows this can be a little bit of a s***field to drive and sorry for the again,” Wolff mentioned. “We are going to type ourselves out.”
Wolff advised reporters in Baku he would think about using a reserve driver in Montreal if Hamilton remains to be struggling.
Mercedes’ backup drivers are Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries.
Hamilton’s absence can be an enormous blow for the Montreal race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which is being held for the primary time since 2019. The 2020 and 2021 races have been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hamilton is sixth within the drivers’ standings with 88 factors. Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen is the chief.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed June 12, 2022.
