Lewis Hamilton had to “yank” the steering wheel to overcome balance issues with his Mercedes in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Qualifying seventh after a difficult session, Hamilton explained that Mercedes found a component of the car that was not built correctly, leading them in the wrong set-up direction.
After starting from the pitlane due to a new power unit being fitted for the race, Hamilton managed to climb to ninth at the finish following a suspension set-up change and some late-race incidents.
Despite the comeback, Hamilton struggled with handling issues on the street circuit, visibly fighting the car around tight corners.
Hamilton expressed frustration over the unorthodox driving style required to handle the car, citing imbalanced front and rear traction.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15
Photo by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Images
Hamilton noted the struggles with pace and balance, mentioning the decision to take an engine penalty in Baku to prepare for upcoming races in locations like Austin and Singapore.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff explained the strategic decision to change engines in Baku, acknowledging the challenges of overtaking on the tight street circuit.
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Mercedes is looking to improve performance with a new floor in Austin, with plans to shift to a new specification from that race onwards.
George Russell’s performance in Azerbaijan highlighted Mercedes’ struggle with balance, with Wolff noting the importance of finding the right balance and tire performance for each track.
