For Hamilton, the W13 is still not progressing: “It was a disaster”

This is definitely not the year of Mercedes, or at least the period. With a W13 much lower than the single-seaters of Red Bull ou Ferrari, the German team is a tone below its rivals, or even several. Weekend after weekend, the staff of the Brackley team try to erase the problems of the W13 by bringing in new parts to allow Lewis Hamilton and George Russell to get closer to the lead car, in vain.

In Canada, Mercedes arrived with a new floor aimed in particular at reducing the porpoising which has so damaged the Silver Arrows. This Friday, Lewis Hamilton had the first chance to try this new element brought for the 9^e round of the 2022 campaign. And at first glance, the seven-time world champion did not end the day with a smile.

« It was a very classic Friday for us, the Englishman advanced before going into details. We tried different things. For my part, I was able to try the new floor which ultimately did not work.

Nothing we do on this car seems to work, so we try different settings. George (Russell) and I used very different settings in FP2, just to see if it worked on one side and not the other. I will wait for his return, but for me it was a disaster."

Hamilton in the tough in Montreal

If he has often wanted to be optimistic about the possibility of catching up on the first places dominated by Red Bull and Ferrari, the only victorious teams since the start of the season, Lewis Hamilton this time seems to be suffering the blow. The Briton seems less and less confident to the point of already talking about next season.

« It's like the car is getting worse, continues the person concerned. It becomes more and more difficult to master as we improve it. We will continue to work on it, it is what it is today. I think this is the car for the rest of the year, so we're going to have to hold on and work hard to build a better car next year."

However, Lewis Hamilton arrived on conquered territory. On the circuit where he scored his first pole position and his first victory in 2007, then under the colors of McLaren, the current Mercedes driver was hopeful. Alas, things did not go as planned for him.

« This is not the Montreal circuit that I know, to which I am accustomed and which I have known during my career, he explains as he completed two free practice sessions at the wheel of his still capricious W13. This is the worst feeling I've had driving a car here. Hopefully we can make something happen overnight. But that's the way the car is. She is what she is. It will be a struggle (driving).

I struggle to keep her away from the walls every time. When it bounces, when it comes off the ground, and then when it falls back down, it grabs and goes in different directions, and you're just trying to catch up with a car that keeps jumping. It's hard, it pushes you to the limit. And there were a few cases today (Friday). We raised the car, but it doesn't make any difference. » Enough to predict another complicated weekend for Lewis Hamilton in the Canadian city.

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