Lewis Hamilton credits ex-F1 driver for helping to get Mercedes back on podium
Lewis Hamilton didn't take all the credit for Mercedes' return to form at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Hamilton opens up on plans to remain in F1 ahead of 2023 season
Lewis Hamilton has praised Mick Schumacher for helping to turn around Mercedes' fortunes as the Silver Arrows secured their first double podium finish of the season in Spain. The former Haas driver hopped in the simulator after the German squad lacked pace in Friday’s two free practice sessions.
Hamilton and team-mate George Russell were languishing in the midfield after FP2, a staggering half a second slower than Max Verstappen. But, Schumacher helped find a new set-up direction which was taken to the circuit oN Saturday and yielded the turnaround that the team needed.
Hamilton lined up P4 on Sunday and went on to finish P2 in the Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Russell fought through the field to grab P3 as the team secured their highest points haul of 2023.
After the race, Hamilton said: “Friday was a real struggle with the balance, it was way out of the window. It was very hard to drive, very unpredictable. And then we did some great work overnight. We’ve got a great team, with Mick back in the simulator on Friday night, and he did some great work, which helped us get on the right track on Saturday.”
Mercedes’ head of communications, Bradley Lord, claimed Schumacher had “bags under his eyes” after a late simulator session. He told Sky Sports F1 that a “lot of hard work” had been done back at base to turn around the weekend.
Russell also made sure to praise Schumacher, revealing the 24-year-old was pumping in virtual laps until past midnight in order to find a fix. He commented: “The team’s done a really, really great job. The work that Mick and the simulator team are doing overnight, they were there well past midnight to help us with the set-up and get it in a good window for the race today.
“So, we are making strides in the right direction. We just need to make sure, especially into next year, that we hit the ground running because I think we as a team probably develop faster than anybody else.”
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Schumacher was handed a test role at Mercedes after he was axed at Haas with just one race remaining last season. He is set to get his first taste of the Mercedes W14 this week with a run at the Circuit de Catalunya.
His uncle, Ralf Schumacher, stressed the youngster was slowly becoming an “important” member of the squad after his work behind the scenes. He wrote in his Sky Deutschland column: “His work in the simulator was explicitly praised by Hamilton in Barcelona.
"I'm happy for Mick. He makes decisions with the engineers in the simulator for the development and coordination of the car, so Hamilton and Russell have to trust him. If that works, it is all the more beautiful because he then becomes an important part of the team and is also considered that way.”