Lewis Hamilton yelled at his Mercedes team during Friday’s practice session ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix as the bouncing issue continued for the team in F1 2022
The 37-year-old seven-time world champion has had a difficult start to the 2022 season. With Mercedes battling Red Bull and Ferrari. Throughout the year, the squad has struggled with porpoising concerns. As he and teammate George Russell fought with their suspension on the tiny, winding Monte Carlo circuit, Hamilton eventually let rip at the Mercedes garage.
“I’m F*cking Losing My Mind,” Lewis Hamilton Rages Over Bouncing Mercedes Ahead Of The Monaco F1 GP 2022, Video Viral
"The bouncing is crazy mate" 📻
Difficulties during FP1 for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes 👇 pic.twitter.com/3kIse4B2Vx
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) May 27, 2022
As his frustrations boiled over, the British pilot addressed the cockpit over the team radio. Joking that he needed “elbow pads” for protection. “It’s so bouncy out here, dude, an angry Hamilton shouted.
“I’m f***ing going insane. This cockpit is bouncing so wildly that I need elbow protectors.” Mercedes has struggled throughout the season, with team head Toto Wolff describing the vehicle as “undrivable.”
The team showed flashes of life in the Spanish Grand Prix last weekend, with Russell finishing third and Hamilton recovering from a 19th-place finish after a first-lap puncture to finish fifth.
However, they were back to their battling ways in Monaco. Where home hero Charles Leclerc beat Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz to the fastest time. Max Verstappen, the championship leader, finished fourth, while Hamilton finished tenth.
Wolff was quick to defend Hamilton and once again targeted his Mercedes, calling it “undrivable.” I think we have a riding issue, he told Sky Sports. It’s something we’ve had all season and it’s on the bounce. Sometimes it’s a combination of mistake and stiffness, but today it’s the rigidity, says the narrator.
Our car seemed to function well because we were speedy, albeit perhaps not towards the end when we put the hard tier on. I believe we need to concentrate on the setup. Attempt to make it a little more pleasurable for them. We desire a quick vehicle. In any event, we’re getting closer and learning more, so that’s a good thing.
Who is Hamilton:
Hamilton, who was born and reared in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, joined McLaren’s young driver program in 1998. This led to a Formula One drive with McLaren from 2007 until 2012, becoming Hamilton the championship’s first and so far only black driver. Hamilton established multiple records in his first season, finishing second to Kimi Räikkönen by one point.
He won his first championship the following season in a spectacular manner, executing a key overtaking on the final lap of the season’s final race to become the youngest Formula One World Champion in history. Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013 after six years with McLaren.
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