<amp-img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/04/29/09/SEI97680041.jpg?quality=75&width=982&height=726&auto=webp" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/04/29/09/SEI97680041.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp&crop=982:726,smart 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/04/29/09/SEI97680041.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp&crop=982:726,smart 640w" alt="

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have struggled for pace this season

” height=”726″ width=”982″ layout=”responsive” data-hero i-amphtml-ssr class=”i-amphtml-layout-responsive i-amphtml-layout-size-defined” i-amphtml-layout=”responsive”><img class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content" decoding="async" alt="

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have struggled for pace this season

” src=”https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/04/29/09/SEI97680041.jpg?quality=75&width=982&height=726&auto=webp” srcset=”https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/04/29/09/SEI97680041.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp&crop=982:726,smart 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/04/29/09/SEI97680041.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp&crop=982:726,smart 640w”>

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have struggled for pace this season

(Getty Images)

Mercedes have been told that the car problems they have suffered early in this F1 season mean the title is already out of reach for their drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton has struggled badly in the opening four races of the season, facing significant difficulties with the new Mercedes W13 car and declaring that there was “no question” that his title hopes are over after Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Meanwhile, Red Bull have been criticised for taking a “cheap shot” at the lacklustre early-season performances of their rivals as Formula 1 begins to gear up for the first edition of the Miami Grand Prix.

Helmut Marko, a long-time adviser at Red Bull and head of the team’s driver development program, joked after the race in Imola that Hamilton shoud retire after being lapped by winner Max Verstappen. Marko’s comments have been criticised by former F1 driver Johnny Herbert, who labelled the remark a “cheap shot” and said that Red Bull would still want Hamilton as one of their drivers even after a below-par start to the season.

Follow all the latest F1 news and updates, below:

1651247311

Other Formula 1 teams ‘playing games’ around car weight limit, fumes Alfa Romeo boss

Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur believes other Formula 1 teams have been ‘playing games’ when it comes to the weight of their cars this season.

Due to the increase in tyre size and a number of other heavy additions, the minimum weight of a car plus driver was increased from 792 kilograms to 795kg for 2022.

But after the pre-season testing some teams voiced their concerns to the FIA that the minimum weight was still too low. It was subsequently readjusted to 798kg.

The only team perfectly on 798kg at present is said to be Alfa Romeo, with Vasseur suggesting some teams wanted to raise the minimum weight to disadvantage his team who had got it precisely on the minimum limit.

Luke Baker29 April 2022 16:48

1651246554

Lewis Hamilton doesn’t want F1 to axe ‘crown jewel’ Monaco Grand Prix

And with the Monaco race’s contract set to expire at the end of this season, there are fears it could be ousted from the schedule in the near future.

But Hamilton, who has won the Monaco race three times, feels it is important to keep the most prestigious tracks on the calendar.

Luke Baker29 April 2022 16:35

1651245834

‘I was too greedy’: Leclerc explains error that led to costly Imola spin

Charles Leclerc has said that he was “too greedy” after a late spin ended his chances of a podium finish at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

The early championship leader had started slowly at Imola, losing second spot to Sergio Perez and struggling to close in on the Mexican and Max Verstappen, who eventually secured a Red Bull one-two at Ferrari’s home circuit.

Leclerc and Ferrari made the decision to pit from third late on to go to a softer tyre in a bid to steal a point for the fastest lap of the afternoon and an outside chance of hunting down Perez.

But pushing hard into a chicane, the Monegasque caught the kerb and lost control of his car, fortunate to avoid a more serious collision with the wall but forced to pit to fix a damaged front wing.

It meant Leclerc dropped down the field, and while he was able to fight up to sixth on fresher tyres, Verstappen and Perez closed the gap at the top of the early world title standings.

Luke Baker29 April 2022 16:23

1651245054

When and where is the next Formula One race?

The Formula One season is in full swing as the drivers prepare for the fifth race of the most extensive calendar in the sport’s history.

So far, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen have shared two wins apiece, but the Ferrari man still holds a 27-point advantage over the reigning world champion due to the Red Bull man’s two DNFs in Bahrain and Melbourne.

It looks set to be a battle between Ferrari and Red Bull for both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.

And then there are narratives further down the field involving the likes of Mercedes, McLaren, Alpine, Aston Martin.

Here is everything you need to know.

Luke Baker29 April 2022 16:10

1651244394

Lewis Hamilton’s ‘psychological strength’ called into question amid Mercedes struggles

Former NASCAR and IndyCar driver Danica Patrick has questioned Lewis Hamilton’s “psychological strength” amid his struggles with Mercedes this season.

Hamilton has been on one podium this campaign, coming third in Bahrain, but has failed to hit top gear, so to speak. He is currently seventh in the drivers’ standings after his latest disappointment – coming 13th at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

“I’m really curious, I’m curious as to where the speed is,” Patrick told Sky Sports. “[Hamilton’s teammate] George Russell’s having a pretty decent season, he had a good day. I don’t know, are they trying different things with Lewis?”

Luke Baker29 April 2022 15:59

1651243494

Carlos Sainz welcomed Daniel Ricciardo apology for Imola crash

Sainz didn’t finish the race as a result of the collision but Ricciardo was able to continue, although he didn’t get into a point position. It was a frustrating end to Sainz’ weekend after he recovered an underwhelming qualifying in the sprint race to start fourth on the grid.

“It says much about Daniel as an athlete and as a sportsman that immediately after a race, where you could see he’s had a tough one, the first thing that he did was come in to the Ferrari box and apologise to me,” Sainz said per motorsport.com.

Luke Baker29 April 2022 15:44

1651242654

Charles Leclerc rejects ‘unnecessary risk’ claim after surprise crash at Imola

The Ferrari star crashed after he attempted to overtake Sergio Perez at Imola, which saw him miss out on third place and end the grand prix in sixth as his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings was cut.

Yet despite the incident, Leclerc is adamant he read the track well and didn’t do anything untoward.

Luke Baker29 April 2022 15:30

1651241874

How much do F1 drivers earn? 2022 salaries revealed

The 2022 F1 season is back underway after an off-season that brought the biggest overhaul in sporting rules and regulations in recent memory.

After a thrilling 2021 season, the teams were given a blank slate to prepare their cars for this year’s campaign in an attempt to level the playing field and increase overtaking opportunities.

It comes after Max Verstappen defeated Lewis Hamilton in a wild and unpredictable title race that went down to the final lap of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In a highly controversial season-decider, which ultimately saw race director Michael Masi removed from his post, Verstappen made the crucial pass on the final-lap shootout to win the title after Hamilton had clawed back his lead by winning the previous three races.

Luke Baker29 April 2022 15:17

1651241034

Lewis Hamilton urged to admit George Russell is ‘better driver right now’

Russell has been more consistent this season, finishing in the top five of each race, but Hamilton has struggled in the team’s car. ‘Porpoising‘ has been as issue Mercedes are dealing with and Hamilton could not get ahead of the midfield pack after only qualifying 14th at the Emilia Romana Grand Prix.

It meant the seven-time world champion finished 13th – while Russell finished fourth after being able to get ahead of several drivers on the opening lap.

Luke Baker29 April 2022 15:03

1651240374

Toto Wolff senses Mercedes improvement in Miami to unlock ‘quite some lap time’

The team have struggled this season, particularly with ‘porpoising’, which has seen them bag only two podiums and no wins. The reality of the situation has led driver Lewis Hamilton to concede his title chances this campaign.

But Wolff says their season could turn around in Miami.

“We very much believe that the science we are putting in at the moment will help us to, in effect, run the car lower,” he said, as per Motorsport.com. “It is where we believe we have all the aerodynamic goodness, but we haven’t been able to unlock it because of the bottoming of the car.”

Luke Baker29 April 2022 14:52

Source: The Independent

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

The 10 Best Long-Running Netflix Series, Ranked

While Netflix is not opposed to canceling series, as it has done…

Nigel Farage backs Boris for saying ‘f*** the Americans’: ‘Biden hasn’t exactly been friendly to the UK’

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage…

TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: West Ham are assured they’ll maintain on to ‘revelation’ Declan Rice

Immediately marks the day that the switch window swings open with golf…

Exclusive: Bernie Moreno Makes Case Against Democrat-Funded Frank LaRose, Former Globalist Fellow Matt Dolan

Ohio Senate Republican candidate Bernie Moreno made the case against Democrat megadonor-funded Frank…