There was a lot of drama going on halfway through the race in Imola. While the big crash between George Russell and Valtteri Bottas made most of the headlines, it’s easy to forget that Lewis Hamilton made fans laugh a little after hurling his car into the cordon after an off-track excursion. While the move may have looked silly, ex-F1 driver Martin Brundle defended Hamilton’s actions.
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In his post-race column for Sky Sports, Brundle explained why the seven-time world champion had to take such a step.
He wrote: “F1 cars feel just amazing at 200 mph, but awfully awkward at 0 mph. Finding reversing isn’t a moment’s work, clutch paddles are on the back of a rotating wheel, you can’t see properly, and the steering lock is hopeless due to the wide front wheels and suspension geometry.
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Formula 1 F1. Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna. Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action during the REUTERS / Jennifer Lorenzini race
“It looked a bit silly when Lewis accelerated forward into the barriers and broke his front wing, and it did to some extent, but of course he knows well that you have to keep your powered wheels out of the gravel, if at all is possible, otherwise you may be on the beach and on my way to an early shower. “
That moment of ‘silliness’ helped him save his race and saved some very important points for himself and Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton will have to forego similar mistakes in Portugal
It goes without saying that Hamilton has to be in near perfect shape to beat Max Verstappen for the title. Both the Mercedes and the Red Bull are pretty similar in the speed tables, so it will be a case of the driver blinking first.
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Formula 1 F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – Race winner Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton during the press conference with the second-placed Red Bull Max Verstappen FIA / Handout via REUTERS.
Lewis’ mistake in Italy almost got him to take the lead in the standings. However, he got lucky thanks to the red flags that soon came out due to the big crash. But even he will know that counting on luck is precarious. After all, it was a mistake on his part that Kimi Raikkonen won his only championship in 2007.
Hamilton rarely makes mistakes, but who knows that a rare championship fight will make him wrong more often than we are used to seeing him. But trust a seven-time world champion to learn from his shortcomings and return to his flawless self in Portimao.
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Continue reading: Toto Wolff explains the reason why Mercedes Lewis will be Hamilton’s last F1 team
The post Brundle defends Lewis Hamilton for “silly” gravel trap mistake in Imola first appeared on monter-une-startup.
