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Hamilton pinpoints Mercedes issue hot weather Hungarian GP

Hamilton pinpoints Mercedes' issue: 'Not able to keep up there'

23 July at 13:00
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  • Kada Sarkozi
  • Editor

After winning the British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton finished on the podium in Hungary, where he has won eight times before. According to the Briton however, on merit, Mercedes are still behind a couple of competitors. He also pinpointed a key area where the German team are still falling behind.

Hamilton finished third in Hungary, in a race where he also made contact with Max Verstappen. The stewards decided it was a 'no call', but pinpointed that the Briton could have done more to avoid a collision.

"I think out of pure pace, we weren't [fighting Verstappen]. Unfortunately, we're still not, in hot conditions particularly… So you saw in Austria and here, we're not able to keep up with these guys," the seven-time world champion explained where Mercedes are still behind.

'First stint was better'

What Hamilton was positive about is Mercedes' first stint on the mediums. "In stint one, I was really surprised to see that I was able to hold on to Max. And I wasn't even having to push too hard to stay within a second, or around a second behind him. So I thought at that point that maybe I was in for a chance of at least fighting for that place."

The seven-time world concluded, praising his team's strategy: "But then in the second stint, it was a bit of a disaster, it didn't feel good. And the true pace of the car started to show, I think, on those tyres. But we obviously got the undercut and track position is clearly key on this track. And I think that really ultimately made the difference."