Lewis Hamilton heads into the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend on the again of a optimistic end in Monaco, although the Barcelona monitor doesn’t maintain good reminiscences for the Ferrari star
Lewis Hamilton was threatened with the sack again when he was driving for Mercedes after crashing into team-mate Nico Rosberg throughout the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. Hamilton is presently driving for Ferrari, with the Barcelona monitor the subsequent cease this season.
The British star has a combined document on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, claiming 5 wins but additionally having his share of forgettable moments. One of many races Hamilton is not going to look again on with any fondness got here in 2016.
Hamilton began on pole for that race, forward of then team-mate and title rival Rosberg. However the German driver flew spherical the surface of Hamilton in flip one to take the lead, with Hamilton preventing again.
However as Rosberg defended his place, Hamilton was squeezed onto the grass. He misplaced management of his Mercedes automotive, colliding with Rosberg at flip 4 and placing each of the Silver Arrows out of the race.
The incident infuriated staff chiefs and led to boss Toto Wolff putting in new guidelines of engagement. The late Niki Lauda, who was a key advisor to Mercedes, revealed that the duo had been even threatened with the sack in the event that they ignored the brand new pointers.
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“We put some laws in, we advised them – particularly in Barcelona once they pushed one another off the monitor – we stated this was unacceptable for Mercedes,” Lauda stated in an interview with Graham Bensinger on YouTube.
“We’ve got to win, one among you guys has to win, you can not push one another off. We had some guidelines put in, that you’re not allowed to and you need to pay a penalty for those who do it once more or we’ll consider releasing you out of your contract, as a result of we’re staff gamers right here and we can’t destroy one another.
“Toto got here up with some good guidelines and we had peace once more. We fought exhausting and the accidents bought diminished between them. The large dialogue was whose fault was it? For me it was clear Lewis was too aggressive going to the proper, hit the grass, could not cease his automotive after which hit [Nico] off.
“I stated instantly if I’ve to decide on between the 2 it is extra Lewis’ fault than Nico’s fault. Lewis didn’t admire that, as a result of he was of a special opinion. He stated, ‘Why do you criticise me?’ I stated, ‘Excuse me. I can’t settle for that you just guys crash after which we’ve got nothing and no one’s fault. For me it needs to be any person’s fault.'”
Hamilton is now starring for Ferrari, although it has been a troublesome begin to his time with the Scuderia. He did get pleasure from a optimistic Monaco Grand Prix, coming residence fifth, with Hamilton eager to construct on that in Barcelona.
“I knew beginning in P7 was going to be a problem in the present day, but it surely’s good to see our progress total. As soon as I discovered some clear air, I used to be capable of make up a little bit of floor,” Hamilton stated after Sunday’s race.
“We misplaced fairly a little bit of time in site visitors and the steadiness wasn’t fairly the place we needed it. Nonetheless, we got here away with a podium for Charles, in addition to some strong factors for the staff and it’s encouraging we’re on course.
“We made a step ahead in qualifying, which was a key focus, so a giant due to everybody for the exhausting work in getting the automotive right into a extra aggressive place throughout the entire weekend. We’ll hold pushing and look to construct on this in Barcelona.”
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