Lewis Hamilton says Pirelli's tyres are ruining his shot at the 2013 title. "I'm not really thinking about the championship now," said the Nurburgring pole sitter. "There's really no point."
Earlier, having seen his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg win two of the past three grands prix, the Briton sounded optimistic he could chase down Sebastian Vettel's points lead after dominating qualifying on Saturday. But then came Sunday, where it became clear the move from steel to kevlar-belted tyres, and the clampdown on team tyre-trickery, had hurt Mercedes considerably.
Hamilton said the 2013 tyre situation is one of the things separating him from another prominent British sports star, Andy Murray, who has finally broken though to win Wimbledon. "It is just him and the racket," said the 2008 world champion. "So many elements come into motor racing. There is the electronics performing, the suspension, the frickin' tyres, things that are out of my control," added Hamilton.
Now Pirelli is making yet another change for Hungary -- a new tyre combining the 2012 construction with the 2013 compounds. "We just have to hope and pray that they work on our car," Hamilton is quoted by the German news agency DPA. He is not confident. "It would be good to get a win at some stage but at the moment it really doesn't feel like it's going to happen," said the 28-year-old.
But Hamilton said Fernando Alonso, despite a car development dip for Ferrari, should be more confident. Asked if the title hunt is effectively over for all of Vettel's 2013 rivals, he insisted: "Definitely not for Fernando. Fernando's definitely within shooting range." (GMM)
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Hamilton downbeat after new Mercedes tyre struggles
- Published on 09 Jul 2013 11:26
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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A. Antonelli
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G. Russell
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L. Hamilton
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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L. Norris
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Feb 12
C. Leclerc
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A. Antonelli
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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A. Antonelli
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Spain
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Bahrain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 631
- Podiums 9
- Grand Prix 204
- Country ES
- Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (45)
- Place of b. Oviedo, ES
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.71 m
- 188,072 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Fernando Alonso
Team profile
- Team name Pirelli
- Base Milan, Italy
- 37,476 comments on Pirelli
- 3 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Pirelli
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