More Suffering Awaits Lewis Hamilton & Co as F1 Heads Into High-Speed Baku & Montreal

Mercedes’ start to the season has been nothing short of disappointing. While Lewis Hamilton came into the new season with a strong mentality and hopes of an 8th title, the W13 has done him no favors. He is languishing down at 6th and is already 75 points behind leader Max Verstappen.

However, with upgrades and a solid performance during the Spanish GP, fortunes looked to have finally turned for the Silver Arrows. They matched the front runners in terms of pace, and many expected Mercedes to improve further.

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Nevertheless, the Monaco GP proved to be a hard pill to swallow. The slow-speed corners in the venue did not suit the Brackley-based outfit, and the porpoising continued as well. With the double header of Azerbaijan and Canada coming up, the issues could further continue for the team because of the design of the tracks.

Could Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton continue to struggle?

Although Monaco proved to be a hard race, Lewis Hamilton and Co were expecting a tough week. While the porpoising issue was reduced in Spain, it resurfaced during the race in the Principality. However, this is not the primary issue for the Silver Arrows.

In Monaco, the car was too rigid and stiff. It also had insufficient suspension flexibility and took too long to react to the bumps of the track. Hamilton constantly complained about the issues on the radio as he finished only P8. Despite their best efforts to try to increase downforce, it was a setback.

The problems could also continue in Baku and Montreal. Although the track has a long high-speed straight, the circuit in Azerbaijan also has sharp turns and slow corners. Turn 1 and 2 could especially prove to be a hard task for the Silver Arrows as the cars slow down to a 90-degree turn.

Moving on to Canada, the track comprises multiple sharp chicanes, one right after the straight at the start. Once again, turn 1 could be a challenge for Mercedes. The corners on this track are very technical and difficult to master.

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So, it could be another two long weeks until the Silver Arrows get it right. However, the team has showed their ability in the past and will hope to find their form soon. Can Mercedes bounce back to match Red Bull and Ferrari or will their struggles continue?