Lewis Hamilton left F1 followers scratching their heads with a weird downside in the course of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion started his closing season with Mercedes earlier than heading to Ferrari in ninth on the grid after a disappointing qualifying session on the Sakhir circuit. Hamilton made little floor within the first half of the race and seemed to be nursing an engine subject, as did team-mate George Russell.
He additionally had issues within the cockpit, reporting to his engineer Pete Bonnington “My seat is broken”. The fairly basic-sounding subject left followers of probably the most technological sport on the planet bemused.
Learn extra
Take your ardour for Formula 1 and the Mercedes AMG Petronas crew from the observe to the road and again with the official 2024 Replica attire assortment.
£76.00
Fanatics
Wear your delight and help for the Ferrari F1 crew proper by means of the 2024 season with the official duplicate attire assortment.
£81.00
Fanatics
One fan moaned: “Broken seat for Lewis too now, what the bell is going on? Thought Toto [Wolff] said they were paying particular focus to being operationally better this year.”
A second startled follower added: “Hamilton’s seat is broken? I have never heard of that before ever in F1. Mercedes wtf.”
Will Lewis Hamilton win a race in his closing 12 months with Mercedes? Tell us within the feedback part under
A 3rd raged: “HOW IS LEWIS’ SEAT BROKEN?” Another added: “Lewis has a broken seat and George has engine problems.” A fifth queried: “What do you mean your seat is broken?” A resigned sixth fan merely mentioned: “Everything is broken.”
Mercedes have truly modified the seating place within the automotive after repeated complaints from Hamilton final 12 months. The 39-year-old felt he was too far ahead, claiming he and Russell have been “closer to the front wheels than all the other drivers”.
(Image: PA)
He added: “When you’re driving, you feel like you’re sitting on the front wheels which is one of the worst feelings to feel when you’re driving a car.”
After testing, Hamilton declared himself pleased with the automotive and his seating place. He completed seventh in Bahrain, two locations behind Russell as world champion Max Verstappen took a dominant victory.