Mugello exacted "a punishing toll" on Hamilton and Bottas - Mercedes
Mugello exacted "a punishing toll" on Hamilton and Bottas - Mercedes
Mercedes chief strategist James Vowles has revealed that Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas suffered during the Tuscan Grand Prix due to loads at Mugello being amongst "the very worst" in Formula 1.
Vowles claims the circuit took "a punishing toll" on the duo throughout the 59 laps, with a degree of assistance provided by the two red-flag periods that at least allowed them a breather.
Many corners of the medium-to-high-speed, high-downforce, 15-turn track resulted in forces of 4g and 5g on occasion. By comparison, astronauts experience around 1.7g-2g during a rocket launch.
“In terms of load on the driver the circuit is right up there with the very worst," explained Vowles.
"This year, in fact, we have a number of circuits that will be very difficult on the driver. Istanbul, coming a little bit later in the season, will be exactly the same.
"The stoppages helped them. It allows you to just get out of the car, rest, relax for just a short period of time and it just allows a little bit of a recovery.
"But ultimately it’s the muscles in your body that are suffering, especially in the neck and in the core and the punishment is the same, you are still going around there flat out through a high-speed sequence from turn 6 all the way to turn 9.
"That is nearly all full throttle with over 4 g worth of forces every time and that has a punishing toll on them."
Following his win, Hamilton revealed the circuit was "one of the toughest" to drive, with Vowles remarking that "both commented afterwards that it was exhausting".
He added: "It was both a very mentally and physically draining race.
"Ultimately, both drivers train in between grands prix for the level of strength required, both from the core and the neck, for somewhere like Mugello. And their fitness was exactly the right level to deal with that circuit.”
Before you go...
Latifi's F1 progress lacking due to qualifying "struggle"
Racing Point "clarity" would have helped Perez search for a "plan B"
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Adrian Newey: The life and career of Red Bull's motorsport Michelangelo
- 21 minutes ago
Sky Sports F1 pundit dumbfounded by key Ferrari decision
- 56 minutes ago
- 2
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- 1 hour ago
Talented young F1 prodigy set to make series DEBUT
- 2 hours ago
F1 champion reveals 'painful' contract clause that cost him HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
- 3 hours ago
F1 legend's ICONIC car put up for sale in UK
- Today 14:57
Related news
Mercedes star tipped to replace struggling driver THIS season
Hamilton car camera captures Verstappen's TRUE feelings toward F1 rival
Marko reveals Vettel requirements for stunning F1 comeback
Fierce Hamilton F1 rival raises timing issue for Ferrari move
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860