JUST IN : Could Hamilton puncture be caused by a mirror ? ……….. ReadMore
JUST IN : Could Hamilton puncture be caused by a mirror ? ……….. Read more
Mercedes: Hamilton’s Puncture Unrelated to Mirror Debris
Mercedes has ruled out the possibility that debris from a broken wing mirror caused Lewis Hamilton’s puncture during the Qatar Grand Prix. Despite initial suspicions, an investigation by the team suggests the tyre failure occurred before Valtteri Bottas collided with the mirror.
Incident Details
During the race, Alexander Albon’s car lost its wing mirror, scattering debris on the track. Bottas later struck the fragments, prompting race control to issue and then withdraw yellow flags without recovering the debris. The decision by FIA race director Rui Marques not to deploy a Virtual Safety Car or Safety Car for debris clearance drew criticism.
Mercedes’ Findings
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ head of trackside engineering, clarified that data from Hamilton’s car disproves the link between the puncture and the broken mirror. “We can see Lewis start to lose pressure prior to the mirror being hit by Valtteri,” Shovlin explained. “From that, we would say it’s unlikely the debris caused the puncture.”
However, Shovlin didn’t rule out other potential causes, including unrelated debris elsewhere on the track. “We need to wait for Pirelli’s analysis to confirm the exact cause. They’ll conduct detailed checks on the tyres to identify any deterioration,” he added.
Tyre Durability Concerns
Hamilton’s front-left tyre failed on lap 34, well beyond Pirelli’s recommendation to change medium tyres by lap 25. The intense load on the front-left tyre, particularly in Qatar’s high-speed corners, was highlighted as a significant factor. “There were parts of the tyre wearing heavily due to the flat-out corners at nearly 300kph,” said Shovlin.
Similar concerns were raised after video evidence revealed Carlos Sainz’s tyre failure occurred before he reached the debris field.
The analysis from Pirelli is awaited to determine the root cause of the tyre issues, which may influence future race strategies and safety protocols.
About The Author
