“I Hope, When the Car Touches the Ground…”: Lewis Hamilton Left Hoping for Mercedes Magic at Crucial Brazilian GP

Mercedes have shown some positive signs of a resurgence in the last two races. The Silver Arrows introduced the final changes of the year to the car at the US GP. Since then, they have not just beaten Ferrari in the US and Mexico but also challenged Red Bull for the win. Their chances this weekend in Brazil look bleak as Lewis Hamilton expresses his engineers’ concerns.

Last year in Brazil, Lewis Hamilton displayed superior driving prowess as he came back from P10 to win the race. Before that, he finished P5 in the sprint, qualifying from the back of the grid. To this day, he rates that drive among his best performances ever. However, given this season’s struggles, the chances of him repeating the feat do not look as positive.

Speaking with Sky F1 ahead of the Brazilian GP weekend, the 7-time world champion said, “I don’t think my engineers feel too confident that the car is going to be spectacular here, because of the altitude and the downforce.” Hamilton, however, remains hopeful. “But I hope, when the car touches the ground tomorrow, that it’s connected in an unexpected way,” he added.

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Given the track conditions at the Interlagos, the Briton expects stiffer competition from Ferrari. “It won’t be much different but it might be a slight step backward and I certainly expect Ferrari to be closer than they were in Mexico.”

Toto Wolff remains hopeful after Red Bull’s cost cap sanctions

After finding Red Bull guilty of breaching the cost cap for last year, FIA imposed a $7 million fine and a 10 percent reduction in wind tunnel time on the Milton-Keynes-based team. While some thought Red Bull got away with a slap on the wrist, Toto Wolff feels the punishment is befitting and gives his team a chance to bounce back.

Sky Sports quoted him saying, “I think any reduction in wind tunnel time is going to cost you some performance. We’ve been in the fortunate situation that we won the championship [2021 Constructors’], so for 18 months, we had 7% less than Red Bull every half year.”

“So we are, unfortunately, benefiting from being third, with 14% more on the leaders, and then we have another 10%. That is quite a bit, but it needs to be well utilised,” Toto added.

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Will Mercedes continue their good run at the Interlagos? Or will we have to wait for the next season to see them give Red Bull some much-needed competition?