Hungarian GP – Hamilton: “I don’t know what to say..”
Eliminated in Q1 of the Hungarian Grand Prix Formula 1 qualifying due to a mechanical issue, Lewis Hamilton expressed his disappointment after a new incident that could cost him dearly in the championship.
The qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix was supposed to be a duel between two men. But, as in Germany, it was reduced to a solo performance. The fault lay with a new mechanical problem for Lewis Hamilton, who didn’t even have time to set a single lap time before his Mercedes W05 Hybrid caught fire.
At a crawl in the final sequences of the Hungaroring, Hamilton saw his session go up in smoke with the rear of his single-seater catching fire, reportedly due to a fuel leak according to Mercedes. Stopped at the start of the pit lane, the Brit could only survey the damage, dismayed, as the interior of his car appeared to burn, still smoking as it was lifted onto the crane truck.
In the interview zone, the 2008 world champion explained to Sky Sports: « There was a fire, but I was still trying to bring it back to the garage, maybe they could have done something. But then they said “Stop, stop, stop” so I tried to stop, but the brakes weren’t responding and the car kept moving and sometimes the engine was working, sometimes not, so it’s really very bad. »
In Hockenheim, Hamilton started from the 20th position on the grid and managed to climb to the final 3rd place. Tomorrow, on a track less conducive to overtaking, such a comeback could be more challenging, especially since it seems very likely he will have to start from the pit lane. The Hungaroring is nicknamed the Monaco without the walls. Quite a prospect.
« Honestly, I don’t know what I can do tomorrow, » admits driver No. 44. « It’s a track where you can’t overtake, so I think I’ll struggle to get back into the top 10 tomorrow or at least in the top 5. I’ll probably leave here with more than a 20-point deficit to Nico, but there are still races to run. I don’t know what to say… I’ll do my best. »
Toto Wolff, the executive director of Mercedes, spoke about this incident: “I am devastated for Lewis. We are working flat out to give both drivers the best possible car, and a Mercedes on fire is not what we want to show the world. I am sorry for Lewis and all his fans.”
