“We have to move”: Mercedes in crisis mode

“It's a really hard experience,” said the Formula 1 world champion after his 15th place in Baku. The Mercedes driver had previously finished in the top ten 54 times in a row, winning 33 times. This season, too, he wanted to drive to his historic world title number eight as safely as in previous years. It became clear on Sunday in Azerbaijan at the latest that nothing would come of it, as the Silver Arrows found themselves in an unfamiliar situation.

“We are both destroyed, to be honest,” said Toto Wolff about himself and superstar Hamilton. The head of motorsport at Mercedes spent a long time looking for the right words to describe what was currently happening at the industry leader. “It's painful,” said the 49-year-old: “What I'm taking away is that we have to show our best performance in order to be able to compete for the World Cup.” However, that didn't work in Baku nor in Monaco two weeks earlier Hamilton finished seventh. “It was an incredibly difficult two races,” said the defending champion. Mercedes debacle in Baku For the first time since the beginning of the hybrid era in 2014, both Mercedes finished outside the points. In total, the racing team had only failed to score three times in almost seven and a half years. In Spain in 2016, Hamilton and future world champion Nico Rosberg crashed into each other's cars; in Austria, Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas both retired early in 2018 due to defects. On the Caspian Sea, an operating error and subsequent braking cost Hamilton the podium shortly before the end, while Bottas trailed behind in twelfth with no chance. “I accidentally pressed a button and then the brakes locked,” explained Hamilton: “I’m sorry for the whole team.” “We have to move to close the gaps.” Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff Regardless, Mercedes never got the tires to work well in Azerbaijan. “We can’t accept that we don’t get any performance into the car. It takes too long for it to work,” said Wolff. An intensive work-up should take place before the next race in France in two weeks. “We have to move to close the gaps. The frustration should go away and satisfaction should return,” said the Austrian Wolff clearly. “Your car is incredibly fast.” Lewis Hamilton on Red Bull Hamilton is now fearing the next duel with Red Bull. “Their car is incredibly fast,” said the 36-year-old Briton: “It’s very difficult to keep up with them.” The Dutchman Max Verstappen looked like the sure winner in Baku before Shortly before the end, his left rear tire burst dramatically. His teammate Sergio Perez from Mexico surprisingly triumphed ahead of former champion Sebastian Vettel in the Aston Martin. Under normal circumstances, however, it would have been a one-two for Red Bull, which would have put even more pressure on the reeling Silver Arrows. Valtteri Bottas is under increasing pressure at Mercedes and he should be replaced by the end of the season at the latest. © APA/afp / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA

“We are of course hugely frustrated,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. The Brit announced clarifying discussions with tire manufacturer Pirelli. How Verstappen's serious tire damage came about at more than 300 km/h initially remained questionable. The World Cup is more exciting than it has been for a long time “The World Cup is still very open,” said Wolff. Only six of the 23 races have taken place, and the upcoming European races will feature normal race tracks again. As city circuits, both Monaco and Baku had a special characteristic that is by no means typical. “Mercedes will now be really strong again,” said Verstappen. Wolff confirmed that they believe in their own work and the return to old successes: “The team is angry, but we are fighters and will convert this anger into positive energy.”

Because no one knows how to win better than Mercedes. The German car manufacturer has won the drivers' and constructors' titles seven times since 2014. And at the beginning of the year everything was still going well for the factory team: Hamilton won three of the first four Grand Prix. This is one of the reasons why the Dominator is confident despite the great disappointment. “We will definitely come back stronger,” said Hamilton, who, despite his mistake, is only four points behind Verstappen, who is still in the lead, in the overall championship standings.

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“We have to move”: Mercedes in crisis mode

His own major mistake and the end of an almost unreal series hurt Lewis Hamilton.

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