Hamilton: I can't create miracles to beat Ferrari

  • Published on 29 Aug 2018 15:01
  • comments 10
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Lewis Hamilton has called on Mercedes to step up following Sebastian Vettel's victory at Spa. The German led Hamilton home by over 11 seconds, despite Hamilton taking pole position on Saturday.

Vettel took the lead on lap 1 and remained unchallenged for the rest of the race. He has now closed the gap in the driver's championship to 17 points, and Hamilton has been left worried following a string of Grands Prix in which he felt Ferrari has had the superior car.

In Germany, Vettel was leading the race before it started to rain, which caused him to crash out. Hungary qualifying saw a downpour which Hamilton claims saved Mercedes, as he believes they were not quick enough in the dry. He bagged pole position and with Hungary providing little overtaking opportunities, he hung on for the win.

And he says that he is used to being an underdog from his junior career, but understands that he can't simply create miracles to win: "That's how my life's always been. I started with a really old go-kart and I used to beat people with much better equipment," he said.

"My dad used to call it a four-poster bed, he said I could drive anything. So naturally I feel I can eke a bit more out of it, and I have been in recent races, and beat a faster car. But there is only a certain amount I can do. I can't always create miracles. There are going to be times like today where it doesn't work.

"But there are still eight races to go and a lot of positives to take into those races, we have just got to keep working on the car and the tyres and optimise that. We can still beat them at races, I just don't know which ones it is going to be."

Next up on the Formula 1 roster is Monza and Singapore. While Mercedes should be in contention this weekend in Italy, it may struggle around the street circuit of Singapore. Hamilton admits that the title fight will only get tougher as the season goes on.

"If it hadn't rained in Hockenheim we wouldn't have won. If it hadn't rained in Hungary we wouldn't have won. And obviously he won today but if it hadn't rained yesterday we probably wouldn't have started first and I don't know if we would have been able to tow him down that back straight. It might have been similar to last year but just in reverse. So the rain creates opportunity, but we can't just rely on that.

"We have to improve our performance so we can maximise on days like today in the dry conditions. These races coming up, I imagine it is going to be hot next week, hot in Singapore. The rain there is always welcome and then I don't know where we have got after that. This is definitely the hardest season and it will continue to get harder and harder throughout."

 

Fergal Walsh

 

I hope Horner brought his violin this weekend as it looks like we're in for a weekend of whining from Hamilton.

  • 1
  • Aug 29 2018 - 16:18

Replies (10)

Login to reply
  • I hope Horner brought his violin this weekend as it looks like we're in for a weekend of whining from Hamilton.

    • + 1
    • Aug 29 2018 - 16:18
  • Chaos at the first sign of a challenge?

    • + 0
    • Aug 29 2018 - 16:18
    • I think we are more and more seeing the "real" Hammy, the one that panics as soon as he isnt in the dominant car

      • + 0
      • Aug 29 2018 - 19:10
    • cricho

      Posts: 80

      Real HAM has a week mind when not on top..

      • + 0
      • Aug 30 2018 - 14:29
  • Already starting with the list of excuses to use at the end of the season in case of Vettel winning the title? Here let me help you: "I let him win!"

    • + 0
    • Aug 29 2018 - 19:11
  • RogerF1

    Posts: 501

    Put title hungry Max in Hammy’s car and I think Seb would be seeing a good dog fight for the title. LH had it too easy for his follow up titles, is he hungry enough to take the risks?

    • + 0
    • Aug 29 2018 - 22:46
    • cricho

      Posts: 80

      Agreed!

      • + 0
      • Aug 30 2018 - 14:27
  • cricho

    Posts: 80

    HAM showing his weeknes again. Mental weeknes when he's not on top and winning. I would say it is he's only flaw.

    • + 0
    • Aug 30 2018 - 14:25
  • Smiler121

    Posts: 53

    I'm a big Hamilton fan but I imagine Seb felt a similar way past few years, just as Alonso has been feeling in the Mclaren. For better or worse Lewis appears to open up more than some drivers, possibly for his own mind management & he's still pushing the message that the team need to keep working without pointing fingers. Can't imagine that there's anyone @ Mercedes who would confidently believe Max would have won that one.

    • + 0
    • Aug 30 2018 - 23:59
  • Smiler121

    Posts: 53

    Pretty sure that anyone on that grid (including Lewis) that got a chance to sit in the Merc would be giving it 100% but to finish first you have to finish & there is a whole year of races. I also feel Raikkonen is far more hungry than folks give him credit for & would love a year when the car suits him most & he can exploit it, however Seb outperforms him way more often when required. Deep down I'm certain Lewis & Seb both want their 5th driver championship desperately & EITHER would be bricking it a little deep down if they felt their car might be lagging behind, after all whoever wins comes out on top again for another year at least!

    • + 1
    • Aug 31 2018 - 00:23

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 3,162
  • Podiums 127
  • Grand Prix 187
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (39)
  • Place of b. Tewin, GB
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar