MONTE CARLO — Lewis Hamilton mentioned he has by no means skilled something as dangerous as attempting to drive his bouncing Mercedes across the bumpy Monte Carlo circuit on Friday.
Mercedes appeared to have solved the worst of its automobile’s bouncing points on the final race, the Spanish Grand Prix, however the nature of the Monaco circuit means the drivers are actually experiencing a unique sort of bouncing, attributable to the observe floor reasonably than the automobile’s aerodynamics.
At one level within the first session, a flustered Hamilton instructed Mercedes over the radio: “It is so bouncy out right here, man, I am dropping my f—ing thoughts!”
Hamilton mentioned he felt like he was battling the automobile all the time.
“Firstly, it’s the bumpiest observe I’ve ever been too,” Hamilton mentioned Friday night. “It’s the bumpiest observe I’ve ever pushed.
“So 1, that makes it troublesome and a pair of, our automobile bounces lots. It’s totally different bouncing to what we’ve got skilled previously.
“It’s within the low pace [corners], it isn’t aero and the bumps within the observe are making it worse, so it isn’t a case of studying easy methods to drive the observe… it’s simply combating the automobile.
“Placing the lap collectively is, wow…holy crap … I’ve not skilled it like that earlier than.”
He added: “I keep in mind again within the day my first years right here, a lightweight nimble automobile was so significantly better. However now we’ve got these tremendous heavy automobiles and the braking zones are totally different.
“It’s loopy it’s 2022 and the tracks aren’t as clean when they’re resurfaced, expertise continues to be in opposition to us, however I believe we made some enhancements going into that session and while you do put a lap collectively the grip does not really feel too dangerous it’s simply eyeballs popping out the sockets…”
Apply steered Ferrari is a transparent favorite, with Pink Bull comfortably second.
Hamilton’s teammate George Russell was the faster Mercedes driver in apply and nonetheless a good distance off the leaders.
Hamilton didn’t sound optimistic Mercedes could make sufficient enhancements to take the struggle to both group in entrance.
“We now have some work to do in a single day. As I anticipated we aren’t as fast because the Ferraris or the Pink Bulls.”
