Hamilton at a loss: “I can’t do anything”

While World Cup leader Verstappen continues to develop the car with Red Bull, Mercedes has long been concentrating fully on developing a winning car for the future. “We are planning for the long term,” said Toto Wolff, head of motorsport at the Silver Arrows: “We are sticking to our timetable that we are concentrating on the development of the car for 2022. We are aware of the consequence that this could have an impact on 2021.”

“If we don’t improve the car, this will continue.” Hamilton on Verstappen's current dominance So Mercedes is already giving up the World Cup after a third of the season? Hardly likely. “We still have a lot of races and we have to keep pushing. We are the world champions,” said seven-time champion Hamilton. However, before the ninth round of the season on Sunday (15 p.m.) in Austria, he is 18 points behind Verstappen. The Dutchman won three of the last four races. “If we don’t improve the car and develop for the rest of the year, this will continue,” said Hamilton. However, Wolff immediately rejected the request for a revised rear wing. The team boss is thinking about 2022 “It is a difficult decision, but we are switching to a completely new car concept for the next few years,” said Wolff. From 2022, a completely new set of regulations will make it necessary to construct a completely different car, and the budget cap introduced for the teams will also set a financial framework. “So it is very important to find the right compromise,” said the Austrian. Of course, this year they want to win the world championship for drivers and designers for the eighth time in a row. But that's no use if you're at a technical disadvantage in the future. Toto Wolff defends Mercedes' direction. © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / CLIVE MASON

“I don’t question the direction of the team,” said Hamilton. The 36-year-old actually wants to be the first driver to become world champion for the eighth time this year. But the path there will be more difficult than it has been since 2016. Five years ago, the record hunter last lost out in the team's internal duel with Nico Rosberg, but has otherwise always won the title since 2014. “Give me an upgrade, we’d love that. But I don’t think there’s anything planned at the moment,” said the 98-time Grand Prix winner.

At least technical director James Allison announced improvements. “We have a decent number of things that will make our car faster in the coming races,” he said. Of course, Hamilton would love to see that. “We are working as hard as we can to see if we can close the gap,” he said Thursday. Hamilton remains positive, he assured that he doesn't want to get into a “negative bubble.” Red Bull doesn't trust the roast Meanwhile, those responsible at long-term rival Red Bull don't trust the Silver Arrows' statements. “I can hardly imagine that Mercedes will end this season without even putting a new part on the car,” said team boss Christian Horner and couldn’t resist a dig at Wolff: “What Mercedes does is their business . I know that Toto Wolff likes to shine the spotlight on something else.” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner doesn't trust Mercedes' statements. © FIRO Sportphoto/SID

So this is all just a feint and Mercedes will strike back technically in the next few weeks? Certainly not. It is much more likely that Red Bull, like most other teams, will soon look ahead to next year and no longer produce any new parts for this season. Hamilton is also counting on this. “I'm trying not to be worried at the moment. But there is no sugarcoating it: they are currently faster. I can not do anything."

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Hamilton at a loss: “I can’t do anything”

No amount of complaining will help Lewis Hamilton. In the tight title fight with Max Verstappen, the Formula 1 world champion will no longer receive any decisive technical improvements for his Mercedes until the end of the season.

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