Mercedes Reveal Close Call for Hamilton and Russell with 'Serious

Mercedes Reveal Close Call for Hamilton and Russell with ‘Serious Penalty……read more

Mercedes has disclosed that both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell came close to facing significant penalties during the Brazilian Grand Prix, shedding light on the difficulties the team faced during the race weekend in Sao Paulo.

The Brackley-based team endured a challenging race in Brazil, with several strategic errors impacting their performance. Despite being in contention for a strong finish, Russell, who had been in the mix for a race victory, lost ground after a pit stop blunder during a virtual safety car period. This misstep, combined with the unfortunate timing of a red flag, ultimately handed an advantage to Max Verstappen, Esteban Ocon, and Pierre Gasly, who all benefited from a free pit stop. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s weekend was also marred by a disappointing qualifying session, and the seven-time world champion could only manage to finish 10th, far from where he had hoped to be.

Though Russell finished the race in fourth, behind the two Alpine drivers, Mercedes’ race strategy had significantly hampered his chances of securing a podium. The decision to pit him during the virtual safety car period was a pivotal moment, as the red flag that followed played into the hands of Verstappen, Ocon, and Gasly, who were able to make a free pit stop. These circumstances drastically altered the race’s dynamics, with the Mercedes duo failing to capitalize on their earlier positions.

In addition to the on-track struggles, Mercedes faced regulatory challenges off the track, as the team was penalized by the FIA for failing to meet the correct tire pressure requirements. This penalty stemmed from an incident during the aborted start to the race, which was delayed after Lance Stroll’s spin on the formation lap. The delay caused a shift in the timing of the restart procedure, which ultimately led to the tire pressure issue.

Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, explained the sequence of events that led to the penalty. The team was caught off-guard when the restart message came through with just 10 minutes remaining before the revised start time. According to FIA regulations, teams are required to have their tires fitted to the cars and checked by the FIA at least five minutes before the race start. This tight window put Mercedes in a difficult position, as they only had a few minutes to get the tires to the cars and ensure they were up to the proper standards.

One of the complications Mercedes faced was related to the tire sets they had prepared. The tires that were selected for the start were not yet at the required race pressures, as they had been stored on wheelie boards for ease of movement rather than being fully prepped for the race. Shovlin explained that while engineers were calling for the necessary tire pressures, the technicians were scrambling to ensure the sets were brought up to the required levels. By the time the tires were brought to the cars, the team was pushing against the five-minute deadline for FIA checks.

Shovlin outlined how this led to the penalty, which occurred because the team was unable to complete the required FIA checks within the allotted time. “The penalty we got was actually because we didn’t have time for the FIA checks to be done,” Shovlin said in a video posted on Mercedes’ official YouTube channel. This failure to comply with the FIA’s tire pressure regulations resulted in a fine for the team, which added to their already difficult race weekend.

The tire pressure infringement and subsequent fine were the latest in a series of setbacks for Mercedes during the Brazilian GP. While the team was not handed a more severe penalty, such as a grid drop or disqualification, the situation could have escalated further, with the potential for more significant consequences for both the team and their drivers.

Despite these challenges, Mercedes is now focusing on analyzing the lessons learned from the race and ensuring that similar issues do not arise in future events. The team’s engineers and strategists will be reviewing their approach to tire management and pit stop decisions, while also improving their communication and timing during critical race moments.

The Brazilian Grand Prix was another difficult chapter for Mercedes in what has been a tumultuous season for the team, with inconsistent performances and occasional strategic errors affecting their results. While they have shown flashes of competitive form, such as Russell’s brief lead in the race and Hamilton’s strong performances earlier in the season, they continue to struggle in their efforts to compete with the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari for race wins.

Looking ahead, Mercedes will be hoping to build on their knowledge from the Brazilian GP, learning from their mistakes and striving to find the right balance between race strategy and technical execution in the remaining rounds of the season. With the penalties and missteps now behind them, the team will be working hard to regain their competitive edge and ensure that they are better prepared for the challenges of the 2024 season.