Lewis Hamilton heads to Silverstone and his dwelling British Grand Prix – a venue the place has gained extra usually than some other driver – aiming to place the frustration of what he termed a “surprising” weekend in Austria swiftly behind him.
George Russell ended Mercedes’ 33-race victory drought on the Pink Bull Ring final Sunday after being in prime place to revenue from Max Verstappen and Lando Norris’ late collision whereas disputing the lead of the race, however Hamilton completed three locations again in fourth after trailing the sister automotive for tempo all through the Dash weekend.
Hamilton’s grand prix, which noticed him accumulate a five-second penalty for crossing the white line on his entry to his first pit cease, was compromised by injury sustained to his automotive’s flooring early on – however the seven-time champion made no excuses for his displaying afterwards.
“Fairly surprising,” Hamilton admitted to Sky Sports activities F1.
“However actually pleased for the crew. Everybody within the manufacturing facility has labored so onerous this 12 months to get a end result like this so massive congratulations to the crew and George. Nicely deserved.”
Requested what the explanation was for his “surprising” race, Hamilton merely replied: “Me. Simply been fairly sh.. all weekend.
“It isn’t for the shortage of attempting however simply usually gradual.”
‘We’re going to win a race with him this 12 months’
Hamilton’s underwhelming Austrian weekend – when he was outqualified by Russell for each the Dash and the Grand Prix earlier than ending behind his countryman in each races – got here only a week after his season had appeared to show a nook when he drove a stirring race to 3rd at Barcelona, claiming his first podium of 2024.
Hamilton heads to Silverstone 9-2 right down to Russell in Grand Prix qualifying to date this, whereas the latter’s second profession win in Austria elevated the youthful Briton’s benefit within the championship over his team-mate to 26 factors.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ crew principal, believes Hamilton will work by way of this troublesome interval of type and predicted “we’re going to win a race with him this 12 months” earlier than the seven-time champion departs for Ferrari.
“He has a foul spell and, as a racing driver, it may be thoughts crashing for those who really feel that you’re not capable of ship your greatest performances,” Wolff advised Ted Kravitz.
“He must undergo this. This isn’t a state of affairs that instantly he has unlearned driving, quite the opposite, issues have come collectively.
“He had a superb race in Barcelona so we have simply bought to dive by way of this – and we’re going to win race with him this 12 months.”
The latest of Hamilton’s report 103 profession wins got here within the penultimate spherical of the 2021 season in Saudi Arabia, with Russell taking Mercedes’ solely two wins since then and the change of F1 laws which noticed the previous champions drop down the sphere.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell interact in an early battle within the Austrian Grand Prix
On the difficulties of Hamilton’s Sunday across the Pink Bull Ring, Wolff stated: “A reasonably first rate begin after which flip one, lap one, giving the place again was a harsh factor. Nevertheless it was fairly clear that we’d be getting a 10-second penalty by not doing it.
“Then it began to spiral. He pushed very onerous on the entry, you possibly can see how a lot he pushed, misplaced the rear after which clearly the following penalty took place.
“On prime of that, we had flooring injury due to the kerb trip, which I assume most individuals have however his was intensive. It was two and a half tenths in components that broke off on the kerb.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
A glance again in any respect of Lewis Hamilton’s eight record-breaking British Grand Prix wins at Silverstone
Can Hamilton keep distinctive dwelling podium streak?
In what marks a blue-riband conclusion to the F1 season’s first triple-header, Silverstone hosts this 12 months’s British Grand Prix with Hamilton, the nation’s most profitable and well-known driver, racing within the occasion for the 18th time.
The 39-year-old has gained the occasion a report eight instances, most lately in 2021 after a controversial first-lap collision with Max Verstappen, and might be seeking to prolong a exceptional sequence of 10 consecutive podium finishes relationship again to 2014.
That run contains third-placed finishes in every of the previous two years regardless of Mercedes being off the main tempo.
The ten-race podium run additionally represents a report for a driver at a single Grand Prix. In complete, Hamilton has completed on the British GP podium 13 instances which, once more, is greater than any driver at some other occasion.
Sky Sports activities F1’s stay British GP schedule (all F1 periods on Sky Showcase)
Thursday July 4
1.30pm: Drivers’ Press Convention
6pm: The F1 Present
Friday July 5
8.35am: F3 Apply
9.55am: F2 Apply
12pm: British GP Apply One (session begins at 12.30pm)
2.05pm: F3 Qualifying
3pm: F2 Qualifying
3.45pm: British GP Apply Two (session begins at 4pm)
Saturday July 6
9.15am: F3 Dash
11.15am: British GP Apply Three (session begins at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Dash
2.15pm: British GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: British GP Qualifying
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday July 7
8:15am: F3 Function Race
9:50am: F2 Function Race
11:50am: Porsche Supercup
1:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday – British GP build-up
3pm: The BRITISH GRAND PRIX
5pm: Chequered Flag: British GP response
6pm: Ted’s Pocket book
F1’s summer season triple-header concludes with the massive one, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Watch each session stay on Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky Showcase, with Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime