Frustrated Lewis Hamilton rues lack of Mercedes progress: ‘Exactly same as last year’

Lewis Hamilton said it was “tough” to see that Mercedes has no progress to show for their work, with the W14 bouncing and sliding at Suzuka just like its predecessor the W13 did.

Hamilton had already expressed dissatisfaction with his W14 challenger after qualifying P7 at Suzuka, claiming it had a lack of load on the rear, which in his opinion, was “100 per cent concept” related.

And while Hamilton was able to gain a couple of positions in the race, crossing the line P5, he was nonetheless 50 seconds behind Red Bull’s race winner Max Verstappen, and again had some critical words for his machinery.

“Exhausted” Lewis Hamilton disappointed to see no progress

The bouncing phenomenon known as porpoising was what held Mercedes back in the early stages of this regulatory era, with challengers switching to ground effect aerodynamics from 2022, though Hamilton claimed the bouncing had returned at Suzuka.

And to see the team so far off Verstappen out front and 30 seconds behind P2 finisher Lando Norris in the McLaren, Hamilton declared that Mercedes had not made any progress, which was “tough” to take.

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“I’m exhausted for one,” Hamilton told Sky F1 post-race. “Fighting with absolutely everything I have to get as high up as possible and get ahead of Ferrari, which had an upgrade this week so they are particularly quick, but have been quicker the last few races.

“It was a hell of a fight and really trying to hold on. I’ve scored the most points for the team, I’m really trying to hold on for the Constructors’, I know how important it is for everyone in the background back at the factories and so giving it absolutely everything.

“But it’s tough on weekends like this, particularly where the car is such a handful and basically the exact same as last year. Feeling-wise, the car felt just the same as last year. It’s bouncing and sliding.

“So that’s tough, given how much work we’ve done to progress, and we’re not any closer to the front, at least here.

“但我们获得成功的一个法拉利的范围h is great teamwork and great work from the guys in the pit stop and the strategies. So, long way to go.”

With Fernando Alonso managing only P8 to Hamilton’s P5, the seven-time World Champion was at least able to strengthen his grip on P3 in theDrivers’ Championship, his buffer over Alonso now 16 points.

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