Ex-Williams F1 Manager Credits Pirelli for Turning Around Lewis Hamilton’s Form This Season
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Ex-Williams F1 Manager Credits Pirelli for Turning Around Lewis Hamilton’s Form This Season
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Reuters
Formula One F1 – British Grand Prix – Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain – July 16, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton shakes hands with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after finishing first and second respectively in the sprint race qualifying Pool via REUTERS/Lars Baron
Reuters
Formula One F1 – British Grand Prix – Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain – July 16, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton shakes hands with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after finishing first and second respectively in the sprint race qualifying Pool via REUTERS/Lars Baron
The 2021 F1 season is one of the closest seasons in recent times. With just eight points separating Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, the season now passes through a much needed summer break after 11 intense races.
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Although Verstappen led Hamilton by 32 points before the British Grand Prix, he saw the championship lead change hands helplessly in the next two races. The Dutchman garnered just five points across those races, compared to Hamilton’s 45.
Recently, famed F1 journalist Peter Windsor gave his summary of the season so far. He mentioned the difference between the two title rivals came down to the changes in Pirelli’s tires.
Peter Windsor mentions how Pirelli’s new tires changed the game for Mercedes
After the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Pirelli came under fire from many across the globe. This happened because Verstappen and Lance Stroll suffered punctures which dented their race in Baku. At the Austrian Grand Prix, they tested a few new sets of tires, which they implemented in the British Grand Prix.
During his analysis of the season so far, Windsor admitted Mercedes’ season picked up after Pirelli introduced the new tires in Silverstone. He said, “I think the season has picked up enormously for them since Silverstone, since the advent of the new stiffer rear Pirelli tires.
“We’re talking about different pressures they run there. We’re talking about rigidity at the rear of the car that will affect roll stiffness as well. But it appears to have helped Mercedes and Ferrari more than it has helped Red Bull.
“Or look at it another way. It’s hurt Red Bull and it hasn’t affected Mercedes and Ferrari. Very difficult for anybody to say in Formula One exactly what is happening there.”
READ MORE: Would Lewis Hamilton Be Regarded Differently Had He Not Won the 2008 World Championship?
Windsor: It’s been good so far for Lewis Hamilton
Although the 69-year-old admitted Hamilton did not have the fastest car, he still had a great season so far.
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Hungarian Grand Prix – Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary – August 1, 2021 Third placed Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes celebrates on the podium after the race REUTERS/Florion Goga
He said, “It’s been a very good first half of the year for Lewis in so many ways. It’s also been a curious one for him because he doesn’t appear to have had, in some races, the best car or indeed a car he can do anything with.”
After the summer break, F1 returns to Spa-Francorchamps with the Belgian Grand Prix. Can Hamilton extend his newfound advantage on Verstappen? Or will the Dutchman retake the championship lead in one of the most exciting F1 seasons in recent memory?
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