Human error, mechanical error: what is the cause of Hamilton’s retirement?
The question is on everyone's lips after the early elimination of the Mercedes driver, let down by a hydraulic failure at the end of Q1.
Does he know he’s in danger? The attitude of the four-time world champion spoke volumes this Saturday afternoon, just seconds after being ejected from the qualifications. In an intense battle against Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton suffered an innocuous setback due to a hydraulic failure when going through the first corner, on a curb.
We are then in the final moments of Q1: Lewis Hamilton is fifth, half a second behind both Ferrari cars of Räikkönen and Vettel. He is also behind Bottas and even the surprising Romain Grosjean. Although easily qualified for Q2, Hamilton continues his effort until the checkered flag. But the Mercedes driver is messy. He locks his wheels for the first time in the eighth corner and passes into the asphalt runoff. The second small mistake is fatal: too fast in the first corner, he goes slightly to the left of the curb before getting back on track. Part of the car still scrapes the curb. The damage is done: a few meters further, Hamilton is off the trajectory, stuck in fourth gear.
Uncertainty sneaks in stealthily: will he manage to regain his speed? The answer is no. Still moving slowly, Hamilton tries to feign compliance with his engineer’s order to stop. The car eventually gives out on the short straight between the eleventh and twelfth turn, before the Stadium. In a survival instinct, he tries to push his car, asking for the marshals’ assistance. #44 eventually realizes the truth a few seconds later, desperate.
« At the time, I didn’t really understand what happened », admitted a stunned Lewis Hamilton afterward. « That’s why I thought I’d bring the car back to the garage. But I was asked to stop. I then tried to push it but I was too far from the garage. I didn’t want to give up! »
[VIDEO]🔥 THE TURNING POINT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP? 🔥 #Hamilton abandons in the middle of qualifying due to a hydraulic leak! 💦
WATCH | 📺: https://t.co/9ttgAijPjf #GermanGP pic.twitter.com/ZRiema2Y2Y
— La F1® sur CANAL (@LaF1SurCanal) 21 juillet /f1/actualite/22843-allemagne-qualifications-une-pole-hamilton-repousse-14e-scenario-ideal-pour-vettel-.html
Upon returning to the garage, the Mercedes driver attempted to understand the origin of the problem. In front of the journalists, his explanation was as follows, deflecting responsibility for having driven over the curb. « I go over it every lap. Just before, I think the steering wheel broke, that’s what caused the issue. »
That said, his assessment is not shared within his own team, starting with his boss. Toto Wolff linked the passage over the kerb with the retirement. « The problem is that the car was damaged by passing over it. That’s what caused the oil leak. » Ultimately, the German team did confirm that the hydraulic failure was a result of the driver going over the kerb. But the failure is still surprising given the relatively harmless action performed by Lewis Hamilton. Moreover, this issue is not the first this season: Valtteri Bottas was also affected by a hydraulic failure in Austria. In the end, the problem lies mostly with the W09.
UPDATE: @LewisHamilton had a hydraulic failure at Turn 1 as he ran the normal kerb through that corner. Then, with failed power steering, as a result of the hydraulic failure, his car jumped over the run-off… 1/2 🇩🇪 #GermanGP pic.twitter.com/1BlkgsLyvc
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 21 juillet /f1/actualite/22843-allemagne-qualifications-une-pole-hamilton-repousse-14e-scenario-ideal-pour-vettel-.html
What are the prospects for tomorrow?
Once again, Lewis Hamilton is forced into a recovery race. Unlike Silverstone, he is aware of his position before the start, having dropped to the back of the field following his collision with Räikkönen. In Great Britain, the champion put on a show, climbing to second place by the finish, thanks to a timely strategy aided by the Safety Car. But the Hockenheim circuit is quite different for him: it’s one of the worst tracks for overtaking.
« I will do everything I can from where I start » said the four-time world champion in anticipation of the race. « I will fight, but it won’t be like at Silverstone! I am just sure that I can get back into the points, but I don’t know exactly where. »
The pressure will certainly be on his shoulders. Lewis Hamilton will fight not to concede a break to Vettel and thus keep the hope of regaining the upper hand in the standings, in a week in Budapest. Obviously, nothing is decided yet!
