Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes is interviewed by Sky Sports before practice in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on May 27, 2022. /CFP
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes is interviewed by Sky Sports before practice in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on May 27, 2022. /CFP
“It’s the bumpiest track,” seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said of the track for Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix, skysports.com reported on Friday.
“There’s like 100 bumps on a single straight. It’s like… eyeballs popping out of their sockets. I don’t know if anyone else is experiencing the same as us. But it’s the bumpiest roller coaster.”
The Monaco race, the seventh of the season, takes place at the Circuit de Monaco. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took first place in Friday practice.
An aerial view of the Monaco F1 GP track in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on May 27, 2022. /CFP
An aerial view of the Monaco F1 GP track in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on May 27, 2022. /CFP
Hamilton endured a nightmarish day after failing to build on the progress made at last weekend’s Spanish GP as he finished 12th.
“It’s a different rebound than what we’ve experienced in the past because it’s in the low gear. [corners] too, but it’s not streamlined. The potholes are making it worse,” the Mercedes driver said.
“As I anticipated, I didn’t think we would be as fast as the Ferraris and the Red Bulls. Our battle is to try to stay away from the McLarens,” he added. “I remember my first few years here, a light, nimble car going around and it was so much better. Now we have these super-heavy cars.”
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes drives during the practice session of the F1 Monaco GP in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on May 27, 2022. /CFP
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes drives during the practice session of the F1 Monaco GP in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on May 27, 2022. /CFP
Hamilton warned that Mercedes “is not on the right track yet”.
“It’s not changing yet, but we’re almost done,” he said. “We’re not on the right track yet. But we’re almost on the right track. We’re working towards it. If we were on the right track, we’d be winning races, but we’ve come a long, long way.
“Incredible work has been done in the background and we understand the car a lot more and we understand more the direction we need to go, so yeah, we’re on a better track, because we were on the wrong track before.”
Ayrton Senna’s logo appears on a McLaren car in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on May 27, 2022. /CFP
Ayrton Senna’s logo appears on a McLaren car in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on May 27, 2022. /CFP
McLaren’s F1 cars will feature the Ayrton Senna logo permanently from the Monaco GP onwards, Formula1.com reported on Friday.
“Starting from the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix, the McLaren MCL36 will carry the Senna logo, marking our commitment to celebrating his legacy. I can’t think of a better race than the Monaco Grand Prix to kick off this recognition of Ayrton’s life,” he said. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.
Senna, the late Brazilian legend, won the F1 World Championship in 1988, 1990 and 1991 and a record six Monaco Grands Prix with McLaren.
He died during the 1994 San Marino GP while driving for Williams.
Reference-news.cgtn.com