Martin Brundle surprised by Lewis Hamilton’s “highly unusual” criticism of Mercedes

Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle says he was surprised by Lewis Hamilton’s “highly unusual” public criticism of Mercedes at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. 
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain, Preparation
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix…

Mercedes made another dismal start to the season in Bahrain as Hamilton lagged over 50 seconds behind Red Bull’s 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Max Verstappen on his way to finishing fifth, two places ahead of teammate 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:George Russell

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The seven-time world champion complained before the race that Merꦆcedes were a “long way off” fighting at the front, while he also raised doubts over the team’s car concept for 2023. 

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff conceded in B♒ahrain🔯 that the once-dominant Silver Arrows would have to abandon their unique ‘zero sidepod’ concept in order to get back to winning ways. 

Following F1 2023’s curtain raiser, Ham🅷ilton claim🌸ed Mercedes ignored him over the development of their W14 challenger after he raised “issues” about the team’s troubled predecessor. 

Asked if he was surprised that Hamilton called out the team publicly, Brundle told the Sky Sports F1♌ Podcast: “A little bit. But quite clearly Lewis feels he is not getting enough traction just chatting to them.

“He obvio🧸usly feels they are not paying attention and he has had to go public with that. I🐻t is highly unusual because he is always the ultimate team player really. 

“A driver like Lewis is not going to want to go somewhere else in a hurry and it’s not a tantrum. He’s obviously felt the need to go public with something because he felt he wasn't being listened to closely eno♓ugh within the team.

“Also I think it’🌺s the start of a very, very long season and after the race in Bahrain there were a lot of very disappointed drivers. The emotions, the sheer frustration and disappointments I think were pouring out because they realised Red Bull were in a different race basically.”

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain, Preparation
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix,…

Brundle added: “I don’t think Lewis is in any different position to say Lando or Charles at Ferrari of stamping their feet a little bit and sayi✨ng: ‘hang on, what are you doing about this? 

“‘Tell me what we’re doing in terms of updates, in terms of personnel, in terms of moving this ꦡgame forward because it looks an awful lot like like la𝓡st year at the moment’. 

“I don’t think it’s all about ‘I’m leaving, I’m out of here’. Sometimes you have just got to stand ꧃up and go ‘this is not right’.” 

However, Brundle suggested꧙ Hamilton’s criticism could be a “bit of game-play” amid negotiations with Mercedes over a contract ext💯ension. 

“We have to remember Lewis is in the middle of a negotiaღtion as well,” Brundle said. 

“I’m 100 perc𒁃ent certain Lewis would always follow the performance and not the money, but you aren’t going to turn down a big pay cheque if you can get it as well. 

“There might be some pressure at Mercedes-Benz to reduce his pay, as it were. So there’s a bit of negotiation and a bit of game-play in this as well.” ღ;

Brundle said he also believes Hamilton will be 168澳洲5最新开奖结果🅘:tempted to try and emula𒁃te Michael Schumacher by joining Ferrari and help turn F1’s most famous team back ꦫinto winners. 

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