Hamilton’s Struggles in Baku: Misbuilt Component to Blame for Poor Mercedes Performance

Lewis Hamilton disclosed that a part on the Mercedes F1 vehicle "was improperly constructed"

"A part was improperly constructed. This caused us to go in the wrong direction then on Saturday."

Lewis Hamilton disclosed that a part of his Mercedes F1 vehicle was "improperly assembled," which resulted in his poor showing during the qualifying round at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Hamilton experienced a difficult weekend in Baku, ending up in ninth place following a start from the pit lane.

The seven-time world champion chose to begin the race from the pit lane due to the installation of a new power unit.

The choice was made following Hamilton securing the seventh position, trailing his teammate George Russell by four-tenths.

Starting from the rear, Hamilton struggled to make significant progress and ended up in ninth place, his finish aided by an incident between Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz.

In a conversation with Crash.net and other media outlets following the Baku race, Hamilton remarked, "Our car performed exceptionally well on Friday. Heading into Saturday, we implemented minimal adjustments. Unfortunately, one of the parts was not assembled properly. This misstep directed us towards an incorrect path on Saturday.

It wasn't until the day's close that we discovered. Participating in this race, they mentioned, was at least the best way to facilitate the change.

"We require an additional engine since I misplaced one earlier. We were aware that today would be challenging."

Crash.net inquired Hamilton about the specific part, but he declined to provide any details.

Despite repairs made to the car upon its release from parc ferme conditions, Hamilton faced difficulties maintaining competitive speed during the race.

Video from inside the car captured Hamilton maneuvering unusually, making sharp turns and not operating the vehicle in his typical manner.

The 39-year-old admitted that the stability of his Mercedes was among the poorest he's ever experienced in F1.

"He mentioned, "That was likely the most challenging handling I've ever experienced. Among the worst, really. Essentially, there was an overwhelming amount of front grip, but the back just wasn't there. I found myself having to aggressively turn the wheel just to get the front to lose its grip and slide through each turn. It was an unusual method of driving, to say the least.

"I was aware that passing wasn't an option for me. Keeping up in the middle and trying to stay near towards the finish is challenging. I'm not sure about the reason behind our lack of speed. It's just one of those things."

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